Bond market sentiment slightly improves for July: poll

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean bond market sentiment slightly improved for July after the United States and Iran agreed on a deal to end the war in the Middle East, a poll showed Wednesday.

The Korea Financial Investment Association said its bond market survey index (BMSI) stood at 85.1 for the coming month, up 4.1 percentage points from June.

Yet the July figure is below par. A BMSI reading above 100 means more experts expect bond market conditions to take a turn for the better. The association's monthly survey was taken by 100 bond experts.

The slight rise was attributed to easing tensions in the Middle East as the U.S. and Iran were set to formally sign an interim peace agreement later this week.

The BMSI for interest rates increased to 71 for July, up 4 percentage points from June.

The index for exchange rates fell to 91 from 98, pointing to their expectations for the South Korean currency's weakness against the U.S. dollar.