93 pct of bond experts eye rate freeze this week: poll

Seoul, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- A recent poll reveals that 93 percent of South Korean bond experts are anticipating the central bank to maintain its key interest rate steady for the month of October, as indicated by a survey conducted by the Korea Financial Investment Association. The Bank of Korea (BOK) is scheduled to meet on Thursday for policy rate determination.

The overwhelming majority of bond experts believe the BOK will need time to analyze market conditions following two consecutive rate hikes in July and August. During a parliamentary audit last week, BOK Governor Shin Hyun-song hinted at a possible pause, stating, "When we conduct monetary policy, we always assess how much time economic agents need to adapt and evaluate their ability to do so."

The association's bond market survey index (BMSI) for November is at 99.1, an increase from 89.7 for October, suggesting that a majority of experts anticipate worsening bond market conditions moving forward.