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KOSPI falls, foreigners net buyers
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Korean won weakens against dollar
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South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
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For the midday report, please click SEOUL, March 24 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares retreated on Friday from a two-week
peak hit a day earlier mainly due to profit-taking, but the
benchmark stock index posted its biggest weekly rise in two
months as fears eased about a global banking crisis.
** The Korean won weakened more than 1%, but posted its
second straight weekly gain. The benchmark bond yield dropped to
its lowest level since early February.
** The benchmark KOSPI closed down 9.52 points, or
0.39%, at 2,414.96, snapping a three-session rally.
** The KOSPI rose 0.80% for the week, logging its second
consecutive gain and biggest rise since late January.
** U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reiterated on
Thursday that she was prepared to take further action to ensure
that Americans' bank deposits were safe, in an effort to ease
worries about banking troubles.
** South Korean authorities will keep monitoring for any
domestic impact from banking troubles in the United States and
Europe, the finance minister said on Friday.
** "Investors were seen booking profits as stock prices
recovered the levels traded prior to the banking crisis," said
Na Jeong-hwan, an analyst at NH Investment and Securities.
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose
1.12%, but peer SK Hynix lost 1.36% and battery
maker LG Energy Solution fell 1.04%.
** Of the total 932 issues traded, 467 shares advanced.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 47.6 billion
won ($36.82 million).
** The won ended onshore trade at 1,294.3 per dollar, 1.24% lower than its previous close at 1,278.3.
** The currency ended the week 0.61% higher, building on a
1.69% jump in the previous week.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year
treasury bonds rose 0.18 point to 105.32.
** The most liquid three-year yield fell by 5.5 basis points
to 3.147%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 5.1 basis
points to 3.211%.
($1 = 1,292.8700 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
