South Korean manufacturers' business sentiment for July declined to the lowest level in four months on a seasonal factor and lingering economic uncertainty, the central bank said Wednesday.
The index that gauges manufacturers' outlook on business conditions came in at 78 for July, down from 82 recorded for June, according to a monthly survey from the Bank of Korea (BOK). The index measures manufacturers' expectations for the coming month.
It marked the lowest level since March when the sentiment index hit 76, the BOK said.
A reading below the benchmark 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists. The index is based on a nationwide survey of 2,351 companies conducted from June 12-19.