The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar today on steady demand, dealers said.

At 9am, the ringgit was traded at 3.1300/1330 to a US dollar, stronger than last Friday's 3.1420/1470 close.

A dealer said foreign exchange liberalisation measures by Bank Negara Malaysia recently helped the ringgit strengthen further.

In early trading today, the local currency was firmer against the Singapore dollar at 2.3117/3156 from 2.3173/3217 on Friday and strengthened against the Japanese yen to 3.6497/6545 from 3.7104/7168 last week.

The ringgit was quoted higher against the British pound to 4.8640/8702 from 4.8745/8841 on Friday and gained against the euro to 3.9879/9924 from 3.9929/4.0008 last week.

- Bernama