*
KOSPI down 0.2%, foreigners net buyers
*
Korean won weakens against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield flat
*
For the midday report, please click SEOUL, April 18 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares snapped a seven-day rally on Tuesday,
with automakers dragging the benchmark index lower. The Korean
won weakened, while the benchmark bond yield was little changed.
** The benchmark KOSPI closed down 4.82 points, or
0.19%, at 2,571.09, after hitting a 10-month high in the
previous session.
** Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Corp fell 1.85% and 2.13%, respectively, after the U.S. Treasury's list of electric vehicles for tax credits did not include their models.
** Beauty product makers rallied after China's first-quarter economic growth beat expectations, led by robust retail sales. Amorepacific and LG Healthcare & Household added 5.18% and 5.10%, respectively.
** "The market was largely sluggish after recent sharp
gains, except for some sectors related to consumer spending in
China," said analyst Na Jeong-hwan of NH Investment and
Securities.
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose
0.46%, but peer SK Hynix lost 1.02%. Battery maker
LG Energy Solution climbed 0.17%.
** LG Chem rose 2.48% on a 1.2 trillion won
($909.23 million) investment plan to build a battery precursors
plant.
** Of the total 931 issues traded, 312 shares advanced.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 343.9 billion
won ($260.83 million).
** The won ended onshore trade at 1,318.6 per
dollar, 0.57% lower than its previous close.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year
treasury bonds rose 0.01 point to 104.88.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
rose by 0.9 basis point to 3.294%, while the benchmark 10-year
yield rose by 0.4 basis point to 3.352%.
($1 = 1,318.4700 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
