KUALA LUMPUR: Ringgit finished higher against the US dollar for the third consecutive day, boosted by mild buying for the local currency, dealers said.

At 5 pm, the local unit was at 4.2880/2960 from the 4.2900/2970 recorded on Tuesday.

A dealer said Asian currencies including the ringgit were lifted following the improvement in global oil prices.

"Brent crude oil prices rose as cold weather in some parts of the northern hemisphere encouraged buyers," the dealer said.

Meanwhile, the ringgit was higher against other major currencies.

It rose against the Singapore dollar to 3.0334/0408 from 3.0421/0488 yesterday and improved to 6.3518/3658 from 6.3844/3957 versus the British pound.

However, against the yen it strengthened to 3.5603/5672 from 3.5631/5698 and gained to 4.6894/6985 from 4.7130/7211 vis-a-vis the euro. --Bernama