*
KOSPI falls, foreigners net sellers
*
Korean won weakens against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
SEOUL, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean
financial markets:
** South Korean shares were set for their best month in more
than two years, even as heavyweight chipmakers dragged markets
lower on Tuesday amid fading hopes of a semiconductor industry
turnaround. The Korean won weakened, while the benchmark bond
yield rose.
** The benchmark KOSPI fell 10.08 points, or 0.40%,
to 2,440.39, as of 0208 GMT. The KOSPI has risen more than 9% so
far this month and is set for its best month since December
2020.
** Chipmaker Samsung Electronics fell 2.69% and
peer SK Hynix lost 2.98%, both set for their biggest
daily losses in two months.
** "Chipmakers were seen pricing in investor disappointment
over signals from Samsung Electronics that there would not be
production cuts," said Choi Yoo-june, an analyst at Shinhan
Securities.
** Samsung Electronics said it would continue to invest in
the memory chip business this year, after it reported its lowest
quarterly profit since 2014.
** Cuts in capital investment and production are usually
seen as an upside factor for chipmaker stocks, as they tend to
raise chip prices and earnings.
** Among other heavyweights, automakers and online service
providers declined, but battery makers advanced. Of the total
932 issues traded, 487 shares gained.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 150.1 billion
won ($122.12 million). It was the second session out of 20 this
month that they sold South Korean stocks.
** They are likely to post their biggest monthly purchase
since September 2013.
** The won was quoted at 1,229.0 per dollar on the onshore
settlement platform , 0.13% lower than its previous
close at 1,227.4.
** The won has gained nearly 3% against the dollar so far
this month and is likely to post its fourth straight monthly
gain.
** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year
treasury bonds fell 0.11 point to 104.84.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
rose by 2.3 basis points to 3.294%, while the benchmark 10-year
yield rose by 3.4 basis points to 3.273%.
($1 = 1,229.1400 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
