KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit has retreated to close lower against the US dollar as well as major currencies on Thursday on lack of buying interest, said an analyst.

At 6 pm, the local note eased to 4.2340/2385 against the greenback from Wednesday’s close of 4.2235/2305.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the market is of the view that the US tariff is likely to take a toll on the US economy that would necessitate the Federal Reserve (Fed) to reduce the Fed Fund Rate to provide support to the economy.

However, Mohd Afzanizam said the US Dollar Index (DXY) is having difficulties to gain strength as the possibilities for an interest rate cut by the Fed is gaining further traction.

"The US DXY was down 0.1 per cent to 98.074 as the US tariffs continue to grab the news headline," he told Bernama.

Mohd Afzanizam said the ringgit versus the US dollar was generally in a tight range of between RM4.22 and RM4.23 during the day.

At the close, the ringgit ended lower against major currencies.

It fell against the yen to 2.8732/8765 from 2.8570/8619 at the close on Wednesday, dropped versus the British pound to 5.6596/6656 from 5.6160/6253, and the euro to 4.9411/9463 from 4.8929/9010 previously.

The ringgit also trended lower against regional peers.

It dropped against the Singapore dollar to 3.2973/3013 from 3.2806/2863, declined against the Thai baht to 13.0954/1146 from 13.0291/0567, was lower against the Indonesian rupiah to 259.9/260.3 from 258.1/258.6 and slipped against the Philippine peso to 7.42/7.44  from 7.34/7.36 previously. - Bernama