KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- The ringgit closed lower against the US dollar today ahead of the first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data set for release tomorrow, dealers said.

At 6 pm, the ringgit was lower at 4.1730/1760 against the greenback compared with 4.1690/1720 at Tuesday’s close.

A dealer said traders took a wait-and-see stance as the country’s first quarter economic performance is expected to slow down in the first quarter.

However, he said the positive development of the US-China trade talks could be a positive factor to support the ringgit.

 “Currencies of export-reliant Asian nations that are susceptible to the trade dispute were marginally stronger against the greenback,” he said.

The ringgit was mixed against a basket of major currencies.

The local note traded easier against the Singapore dollar at 3.0471/0497 from Tuesday’s 3.0466/0499 and depreciated against the Japanese yen to 3.8162/8193 from 3.8018/8048.

The local currency strengthened vis-a-vis the British pound to 5.3836/3891 from 5.3955/4011 and increased against the euro to 4.6729/6784 from 4.6843/6885 yesterday.

-- BERNAMA​