*
KOSPI falls, foreigners net sellers
*
Korean won weakens against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
SEOUL, March 8 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares fell 1% on Wednesday, as U.S. Federal
Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's hawkish remarks raised worries
about more aggressive interest rate hikes. The Korean won
weakened, while the benchmark bond yield rose.
** The benchmark KOSPI fell 26.23 points, or 1.06%,
to 2,437.12, as of 0056 GMT, after a five-session rising streak.
** The Fed will likely need to raise interest rates more
than expected in response to recent strong data and is prepared
to move in larger steps if the "totality" of incoming
information suggests tougher measures are needed to control
inflation, Powell said on Tuesday.
** "He opened up the possibility of a 50 basis-point rate
hike in March, but it is still low as a larger hike will hurt
the central bank's credibility," said Seo Sang-young, an analyst
at Mirae Asset Securities.
** Most heavyweights fell. Technology giant Samsung
Electronics fell 0.49%, peer SK Hynix lost 1.57% and battery maker LG Energy Solution declined 1.06%.
** Of the total 928 issues traded, only 144 shares advanced.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 86.8 billion
won ($65.96 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,316.8 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform , 1.32% lower than its previous close of 1,299.4.
** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year
treasury bonds fell 0.24 point to 103.26.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
rose by 8.9 basis points to 3.815%, while the benchmark 10-year
yield rose by 3.3 basis points to 3.695%.
($1 = 1,315.9100 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
