*
KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
*
Korean won weakens against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
*
For the midday report, please click SEOUL, April 10 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares ended at a near eight-month high on
Monday, led by a chipmakers and battery makers rally on improved
earnings outlook. The won weakened, while the benchmark bond
yield fell.
** The benchmark KOSPI ended up 21.67 points, or
0.87%, at 2,512.08, its highest closing since Aug. 17.
** "Demand was concentrated in the semiconductor and
rechargeable battery sectors," said analyst Choi Yoo-june at
Shinhan Securities.
** South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered a national
strategy meeting to boost the competitiveness of the country's
rechargeable battery and semiconductor sectors.
** The Bank of Korea is expected to hold interest rates
steady on Tuesday to support a rapidly slowing economy,
according to a Reuters survey.
** Chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rose 1.08% and 1.80%, respectively, as Samsung
Electronics' decision on Friday to cut production raised hopes
for an earlier rebound of memory chip prices.
** Battery maker LG Energy Solution jumped
2.76%, after reporting on Friday a likely 145% jump in its
first-quarter profit.
** Its parent LG Chem surged 5.04%, while peers
Samsung SDI and SK Innovation climbed
1.49% and 7.74%, each.
** Among other heavyweights, automakers and
biopharmaceutical stocks gained, while online platform service
providers fell. Of the total 930 issues traded, 223 shares rose.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 729.9 billion
won ($553.19 million), their biggest purchase since Jan. 27.
** The won ended onshore trade at 1,319.7 per
dollar, 0.23% lower than its previous close.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year
treasury bonds rose 0.18 point to 105.27.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
fell by 4.1 basis points to 3.199%, while the benchmark 10-year
yield fell by 4.4 basis points to 3.244%.
($1 = 1,319.4400 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
