The ringgit was once on par with regional peers particularly the currencies of Singapore and Brunei.
But its value markedly dropped over the past few decades, reflecting a complex interplay of economic factors. This included price hikes, wage stagnation and shifts in buying power and productivity.
Tradeview Capital fund manager Jia Man Neoh, CFA said the main reasons for the ringgit’s decline since the removal of the peg to the US dollar in 2005 included a relative decline in national productivity compared to other countries.
Centre for Market Education (CME) chief executive officer Dr. Carmelo Ferlito explained that the decline of the ringgit is a complex issue, noting that a currency’s performance is not always tied to real economic factors or the health of the domestic economy.
According to economist Dr Geoffrey Williams, in the short-term, the value of the ringgit is determined by market developments and news mostly outside of the control of Malaysian policymakers. Feel free to have a read HERE.
#NSTBusinessTimes