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KOSPI falls, foreigners net sellers
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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, April 24 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares fell for a third straight session on
Monday amid geopolitical worries and caution ahead of major
company earnings. The Korean won weakened, while the benchmark
bond yield fell.
** The benchmark KOSPI ended down 20.89 points, or
0.82%, at 2,523.51, marking its lowest closing level since April
10.
** South Korea's key chipmakers and automakers, among
others, are scheduled to report their first-quarter results
later this week.
** Geopolitical worries grew in local markets after
President Yoon Suk Yeol's remarks last week over tension in the
Taiwan Strait, saying that the South Korean government
"absolutely opposes" China's attempt to change the status quo by
force.
** "There were profit-taking pressures and some
supply-demand issues for certain stocks," said Park Gwang-nam,
analyst at Mirae Asset Securities.
** Five stocks fell nearly 30% to their daily lower limits,
including Seoul Citi Gas , Daesung Holdings Co Ltd , Samchully Co Ltd , Sebang Co Ltd and Daol Investment & Securities Co Ltd .
There was no clear common cause for the fall.
** Among the index heavyweights, chipmakers, battery makers
and online service providers fell but automakers gained. Of the
total 933 issues traded, 206 shares rose.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 38.4 billion
won ($28.74 million).
** The won ended onshore trade 0.49% lower at 1,334.8 per dollar, after falling as much as 0.67% to hit a near five-month low of 1,337.1.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year
treasury bonds rose 0.03 point to 105.05.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
fell by 2.2 basis points (bps) to 3.246%, while the benchmark
10-year yield fell by 3.7 bps to 3.308%.
($1 = 1,336.0100 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
