SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korean manufacturers' business sentiment for next month improved, as they expect an increase in domestic demand and exports, central bank data showed Thursday.

The business survey index (BSI) of manufacturing firms came to 76 in February, up from 71 in January, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).

A reading above 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists, while a reading below the benchmark means the opposite.

An index measuring local firms' sentiments toward exports came to 90 for next month, up from 87 for January.

A separate index for domestic sales stood at 89 for next month, up from 84 in January.

Still, local companies expected their profitability to remain unchanged at 86 in February, according to the BOK.

The BSI of nonmanufacturing firms came to 73 in February, compared with 72 in January.

The monthly index is based on a survey of 2,846 companies throughout the country from Jan. 12 to 19.

Yoo Heui-jin  edt@koreapost.com

<저작권자 © 코리아포스트, 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지>