The Malaysian ringgit opened marginally lower against the US dollar on Wednesday, trading at 3.9680/9725, influenced by robust US economic data and geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Bank Muamalat Malaysia's chief economist, Dr. Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, cited improved US manufacturing sentiment and strong job opening figures as indicators of economic resilience, suggesting the Federal Reserve might delay interest rate cuts. Despite these factors supporting the greenback, concerns about potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz contributed to market caution, leading to an expected sideways trading range for the ringgit. Conversely, the local currency showed strength against other major and regional currencies, including the British pound, euro, Japanese yen, Singapore dollar, and Thai baht.