*
KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers
*
Korean won strengthens against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
SEOUL, April 4 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose on Tuesday, with cyclical stocks
leading the gains after major oil producers' decision to cut
output. The Korean won strengthened, while the benchmark bond
yield fell.
** The benchmark KOSPI was up 8.27 points, or 0.33%,
to 2,480.61 as of 0136 GMT, after rising as much as 0.70% to hit
the highest level since Jan. 30.
** South Korea's consumer inflation eased to a one-year low
in March, led by weaker oil prices, but a range of issues
including worries about global growth, monetary policy and
decisions by major oil producers have clouded the outlook.
** "The market is holding better than expected. Cyclical
stocks of energy, chemicals and machineries rose on investors'
inflation bets," said analyst Choi Yoo-june at Shinhan
Securities.
** Energy group SK Innovation gained 2.17%, while LG Chem climbed 2.67% and SK Chemicals jumped 4.33%.
** Chipmaker SK Hynix lost 3.21% after it
decided to issue bonds overseas which may be exchanged with $1.7
billion worth of its shares. Bigger rival Samsung Electronics rose 0.79%.
** Of the total 931 issues traded, 531 shares rose.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 185.0 billion
won ($141.50 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,307.4 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform , 0.70% higher than its previous close at 1,316.5.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year
treasury bonds rose 0.20 point to 104.96.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
fell by 7.2 basis points to 3.276%, while the benchmark 10-year
yield fell by 6.4 basis points to 3.328%.
($1 = 1,307.4200 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee)
