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KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit closed marginally higher against the US dollar today, driven by a weaker greenback amid global trade tensions, said an analyst. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Afzanizam Rashid said the situation with the US tariff remains highly fluid as Chinese president Xi Jinping visited the Asean countries this week. “The weakening of the greenback was surprising as the US dollar, a safe-haven currency, would normally thrive during heightened uncertainties. “Such dynamics would complicate how traders and investors would position themselves in times like this,” he told...

The dollar drifted lower on Monday after an early bump off a three-year low, as investor confidence in the world’s reserve currency remained in question following a stream of tariff-related pronouncements from US President Donald Trump.Investors braced for another volatile week as Trump’s imposition and then abrupt postponement of tariffs on goods imported to the US continued to sow confusion.The dollar reversed early gains as the Asian trading session got under way, languishing near a 10-year low against the Swiss franc at 0.8188.Sterling held to most of its 1.7 per...

US and Russian officials have met in Turkey to discuss ways of normalizing the operations of their countries' embassies. Russia's state-run Tass news agency says the US and Russian diplomats held talks for five and a half hours at the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul on Thursday. The officials reportedly agreed to make it easier for diplomats to travel and receive visas. The agency also says the two sides discussed the need to resume direct air service between the countries. The Russian side is said to have mentioned that it...

The renewal of the Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA), originally established in 2008 and later expanded, now valued at up to $75 billion, marks a significant milestone in the economic partnership between Japan and India. This agreement allows both nations to swap their local currencies for US dollars, providing a critical financial safety net against potential liquidity crises and balance of payments challenges. At a time of heightened global financial volatility, this renewed arrangement underscores the deepening strategic and economic cooperation between these two Asian powerhouses.The BSA holds immense importance for...

For President Donald Trump, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s $100 billion investment in U.S. chip manufacturing represented “a tremendous leap—like, a leap that nobody would have really said was possible.” But TSMC’s $100 billion is just a small part of the at least $3 trillion in investments and trade commitments the Trump administration has racked up in just six weeks since Inauguration Day. The $3 trillion of investment and trade commitments with the United States involve key allies, such as India and Japan, and major players in the private sector—Apple...

Japan has denied an accusation by US President Donald Trump that it is manipulating the yen to benefit local manufacturers after the American leader suggested he is planning to impose retaliatory tariffs if his demands are not met.Speaking to reporters in the White House on Monday night, Trump singled out Japan and China for criticism.“Whether it is Japan or China, the weak currency against the dollar puts us at a great disadvantage,” Trump said. “It is hard for Caterpillar to make tractors when Japan and China are devaluing their currencies.“I...

Japan was also in the firing line on Monday.The US president accused the country of currency manipulation, and hinted he might respond with tariffs. Trump said other countries are deliberately pushing down the value of their currencies to give their economies a competitive advantage. He singled out Japan and China. Trump said he had phoned Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese leaders. He said he told them that they can't continue to devalue their currencies against the dollar because it's unfair to the US. Trump said the easy solution for...