KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 ― The ringgit is likely to trade around the current level of between 4.40 and 4.41 versus the US dollar next week, with all eyes on Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) Monetary Policy Committee meeting on July 6.

Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid told Bernama that BNM might want to increase the overnight policy rate (OPR) in light of the Consumer Price Index outturn which came in at 2.8 per cent in May.

"As such, the real rate of interest has gone into negative territory given the prevailing OPR of 2.00 per cent. In this respect, there is justification for higher OPR.

"Perhaps, the notion of a higher OPR next week would help support the ringgit,” he said.

For the week just ended, the ringgit was traded mostly lower against the US dollar on technical correction due to profit-taking activities and the hawkish stance by the United States Federal Reserve to keep raising interest rates.

The ringgit fell against the greenback at 4.4060/4085 yesterday, compared with 4.4010/4045 a week earlier.

The local note, however, was traded higher against a basket of major currencies on a Friday-to-Friday basis.

The ringgit appreciated against the Singapore dollar to 3.1596/1618 from 3.1710/1740 a week earlier and rose vis-a-vis the Japanese yen to 3.2483/2504 from 3.2590/2621 previously.

It also gained against the British pound to 5.3163/3193 from 5.4128/4171 and strengthened versus the euro to 4.5060/6086 from 4.6444/6481 last week. ― Bernama