*
KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
*
Korean won strengthens against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
*
For the midday report, please click SEOUL, March 2 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose on Thursday, belatedly tracking Asian peers' rally a day before on upbeat data from China, but the gains were capped by concerns about high inflation in the United States.
** The Korean won strengthened, while the benchmark bond
yield rose.
** The benchmark KOSPI ended 15.00 points, or 0.62%,
higher at 2,427.85. During the session, the index temporarily
turned lower, after hitting a session high at 1.15% higher than
the previous close.
** China's manufacturing activity expanded at the fastest
pace in more than a decade in February, triggering a rally in
Asian stock markets on Wednesday, when South Korea was closed
for a holiday.
** Data released overnight signalled inflation in the United
States could stay elevated for a while, dragging down its stock
market.
** South Korea's exports fell in February for a fifth
straight month in annual terms, trade ministry data showed on
Wednesday, although at a slower pace than in January due mainly
to calendar effects related to national holidays.
** "The upside was limited due to sharp rises of global and
domestic interest rates," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at
Daishin Securities.
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose
0.33%, but peer SK Hynix lost 1.45%, while battery
maker LG Energy Solution jumped 2.29%.
** Of the total 933 issues traded, 497 shares advanced.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 480.4 billion
won ($365.43 million).
** The won ended onshore trade 0.53% higher at
1,315.6 per dollar, after gaining as much as 1.43%.
** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year
treasury bonds fell 0.17 points to 102.92.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
rose by 8.0 basis points to 3.875%, while the benchmark 10-year
yield rose by 6.8 basis points to 3.819%.
($1 = 1,314.6200 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee)
