Ringgit tops emerging-currency gains as Brent breaches US$50 mark

[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia's ringgit led gains in emerging-market currencies after Brent crude rose above US$50 a barrel for the first time since November, bolstering sentiment for Asia's only major net oil exporter.

Brent climbed 0.7 per cent, taking its three-day gain to 3.6 per cent, as a drop in US stockpiles accelerated the commodity's rebound from a 12-year low. The rise in oil prices comes as Asian markets seem to be growing more comfortable with the prospect of higher US interest rates.

Developing-nation exchange rates were also aided by a second day of declines for the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, which tracks the greenback against 10 major peers.

"The ringgit's strength was supported by oil-price gains, a mild retreat in the dollar and supportive risk sentiment," said Christopher Wong, a foreign-exchange strategist at Malayan Banking Bhd in Singapore.

"The correlation between oil and ringgit remains significant."

The ringgit appreciated 0.5 per cent to 4.0825 a US dollar as of 11:15 am in Kuala Lumpur, set for its biggest two-day advance in more than a month, according to prices from local banks compiled by Bloomberg. The gains helped pare its decline this month to 4.5 per cent, which is still the worst performance in Asia.

Malaysia derives about 22 per cent of its revenue from energy-related sources and the government estimates the Southeast Asian economy loses 450 million ringgit (S$152 million) for every US$1 drop in oil.

Ten-year sovereign bonds were little changed, with the yield at 3.91 per cent, according to prices from Bursa Malaysia. The three-year yield dropped two basis points to 3.27 per cent.

BLOOMBERG