*
KOSPI rises over 1%, foreigners net buyers
*
Korean won strengthens against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
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For the midday report, please click SEOUL, March 22 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares jumped on Wednesday as commitment by the U.S. to prevent a wider banking crisis lifted risk appetite, with the benchmark index returning to levels traded two weeks ago.
** The Korean won strengthened, while the benchmark bond
yield slipped.
** The KOSPI rose 28.61 points, or 1.20%, to
2,416.96 by the close, building on a 0.39% gain in the previous
session.
** It logged back-to-back gains for the first time in two
weeks and closed at its highest since March 9, or at 2.9% higher
than the latest trough.
** 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
further contagion amid the worst financial system turmoil in
more than a decade.
** Investors are now focused on the Federal Reserve's
monetary policy meeting outcome due later in the day, where the
central bank is expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis
points (bps).
** "Despite risk sentiment, the mood is cautious ahead of
the Fed meeting's outcome, capping further gains," said Lee
Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose
1.33%, peer SK Hynix gained 3.95%, and battery maker
LG Energy Solution jumped 4.95%.
** Most other heavyweights also rose, including carmakers
and online service providers, but they were still a minority of
339 gainers out of 932 traded issues.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 202.5 billion
won ($154.9 million).
** The won ended onshore trade at 1,307.7 per dollar, 0.27% higher than its previous close.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 0.4 bps to 3.290%, while the benchmark 10-year yield was down by 1.1 bps to 3.293%. ($1 = 1,307.6900 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
