*
KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
*
Korean won strengthens against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
*
For the midday report, please click SEOUL, March 6 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose for a fourth straight session on
Monday to hit their highest in more than two weeks, with stocks
of online platform services leading the gains. The Korean won
strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.
** The benchmark KOSPI ended up 30.54 points, or
1.20%, at 2,462.61, marking its highest close as well as biggest
daily percentage rise since Feb. 16.
** "Risk sentiment improved along with U.S. Treasury yields
falling and the dollar turning weaker," said Lee Kyoung-min, an
analyst at Daishin Securities.
** South Korea's consumer inflation for February hit its
slowest pace in 10 months, bolstering views that the central
bank is done with its current policy tightening cycle after it
held rates steady last month.
** The chairman of South Korea's pension fund said it will
collaborate with foreign exchange authorities when needed to
help stabilise the market, including a re-establishment of its
currency swap line with the central bank.
** Instant messenger Kakao jumped 4.26% and
search engine Naver rose 4.38%, tracking U.S. tech
companies' gains on Wall Street on Friday.
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose
1.65%, peer SK Hynix jumped 2.75%, and battery maker
LG Energy Solution gained 1.67%.
** Of the total 933 issues traded, 437 shares advanced.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 322.3 billion
won ($248.6 million).
** The won ended onshore trade at 1,296.9 per dollar, 0.36% higher than its previous close at 1,301.6.
** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year
treasury bonds rose 0.06 points to 103.31.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
fell by 1.7 basis points to 3.775%, while the benchmark 10-year
yield fell by 4.2 basis points to 3.735%.
($1 = 1,296.2800 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
