*
KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
*
Korean won strengthens against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
SEOUL, March 22 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose on Wednesday, tracking Wall
Street's gains after U.S. authorities' commitment to prevent a
broader banking turmoil. The Korean won strengthened, while the
benchmark bond yield rose.
** The benchmark KOSPI rose 19.96 points, or 0.84%,
to 2,408.31 as of 0120 GMT. It was the first time in two weeks
the index gained for a second straight session.
** U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told bankers on
Tuesday that she was prepared to intervene to protect depositors
in smaller U.S. banks suffering deposit runs that threaten more
contagion amid the worst financial system turmoil in more than a
decade.
** "The U.S. Treasury showed a strong will to prevent a
wider contagion," said Shinhan Securities analyst Choi Yoo-june,
citing it for the main market driver.
** Investors are now focused on the Federal Reserve's
monetary policy meeting outcome due later in the day, at which
the U.S. central bank is expected to raise interest rates by 25
basis points (bps).
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose
0.66%, peer SK Hynix gained 1.44%, and battery maker
LG Energy Solution jumped 4.21%.
** Of the total 927 issues traded, 333 shares rose.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 56.6 billion
won ($43.33 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,305.6 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform , 0.43% higher than its previous close at 1,311.2.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year
treasury bonds fell 0.04 point to 104.81.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
rose by 2.1 bps to 3.315%, while the benchmark 10-year yield
rose by 1.8 bps to 3.322%.
($1 = 1,306.2900 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
