*
KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers
*
Korean won weakens against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
SEOUL, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean
financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose on Tuesday after a sharp drop in
the previous session, with traders awaiting U.S. Federal Reserve
Chair Jerome Powell's speech later in the day for clues about
further interest rate hikes. The Korean won weakened, while the
benchmark bond yield rose.
** The benchmark KOSPI rebounded 14.37 points, or
0.62%, to 2,452.56, as of 0159 GMT. It fell 1.7% on Tuesday in
its worst session so far this year.
** "The market rebounded from the previous session's fall,
which was bigger than in other major markets," said Seo
Sang-young, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities.
** Gains were capped as caution prevailed ahead of Powell's
speech, with a possibility of his tone turning hawkish after
surprisingly upbeat employment data, Seo added.
** South Korea unveiled details of a long-touted plan to
expand its currency spot and swap markets to offshore players as
it strives to make its stock and bond markets more attractive to
global investors.
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose
1.14%, peer SK Hynix gained 1.80%, and battery maker
LG Energy Solution added 2.29%.
** Most index heavyweights rose and led the benchmark stock
index higher, but they were among the minority of 347 advancing
shares out of 932 traded issues.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 17.5 billion
won ($13.96 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,255.2 per dollar on the onshore
settlement platform , 0.19% lower than its previous
close at 1,252.8.
** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year
treasury bonds fell 0.07 point to 104.68.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
rose by 3.3 basis points to 3.316%, while the benchmark 10-year
yield rose by 2.6 basis points to 3.307%.
($1 = 1,253.6100 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
