Kyodo News International, Tokyo, Bond Outlook Column.

Kyodo News International, Tokyo Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jun. 15--TOKYO--Prices of Japanese government bonds (JGBs) are likely to remain firm next week, with investors focusing on a 20-year JGB auction Tuesday.

Traders expect the yield on the No. 250 10-year, 0.5 percent JGB to move between 0.400 percent and 0.500 percent next week. It closed this week at 0.445 percent.

On Thursday, the yield on the benchmark issue finished at a record closing low of 0.440 percent. On Wednesday, it hit an all-time intraday low of 0.430 percent. <