Malaysia's ringgit at biggest daily gain against US$ in 17 years

"The ringgit leaped 3.7% against the greenback yesterday to RM4.216 from RM4.371 on Tuesday after trade data for August showed that the weak ringgit had helped fatten an increasingly squeezed trade surplus that has been whittled away by poor commodity prices.

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit recorded its biggest one-day gain in 17 years against the US dollar after a slew of economic data helped push the battered currency on an upward trajectory against the greenback.

The ringgit leaped 3.7% against the greenback yesterday to RM4.216 from RM4.371 on Tuesday after trade data for August showed that the weak ringgit had helped fatten an increasingly squeezed trade surplus that has been whittled away by poor commodity prices.