*
KOSPI falls, foreigners net sellers
*
Korean won weakens against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
SEOUL, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean
financial markets:
** South Korean shares fell 1% on Wednesday after some
investors booked profits while gauging the impact from a rise in
U.S. January inflation and the Fed's commentary that the cenbank
will need to keep gradually raising interest rates. The Korean
won weakened, while the benchmark bond yield rose.
** The benchmark KOSPI fell 24.31 points, or 0.99%,
to 2,441.33 as of 0212 GMT.
** U.S consumer prices accelerated in January, but the
annual increase was the smallest since late 2021, pointing to a
continued slowdown in inflation and likely keeping the Federal
Reserve on a moderate interest rate hiking path.
** "The market took mixed implications from the data, and
foreigners are seen booking profits afterwards," said Kim
Seok-hwan, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities.
** "Investors are now eyeing U.S. retail sales and factory
output data to see impact from high interest rates."
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics fell
1.42% and peer SK Hynix lost 1.71%, but battery
maker LG Energy Solution added 2.10%.
** Of the total 933 issues traded, only 152 shares advanced.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 212.2 billion
won ($166.17 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,275.3 per dollar on the onshore
settlement platform , 0.46% lower than its previous
close at 1,269.4.
** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year
treasury bonds fell 0.19 point to 104.23.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
rose by 6.3 basis points to 3.492%, while the benchmark 10-year
yield rose by 4.7 basis points to 3.445%.
($1 = 1,276.9800 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Edited by Nivedita Bhattacharjee)
