KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened lower against the US dollar as the minutes of the US Federal Reserve (Fed) meeting showed Fed officials were divided on whether to cut rates by half a point in September.

At 8 am, the local currency fell to 4.2875/3005 against the greenback, compared to Wednesday's  close of 4.2800/2830.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said minutes of the Fed meeting unveiled last night showed that its members preferred a more gradual approach to easing monetary policy.