*
KOSPI falls, foreigners net sellers
*
Korean won strengthens against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
SEOUL, May 4 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares were down around midday on Thursday
as investors digested the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve's
latest policy meeting, while keeping a wary eye on the health of
U.S. banking sector, especially the regional lenders.
** The benchmark KOSPI fell 14.52 points, or 0.58%,
to 2,486.88 as of 01:49 GMT.
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd fell 0.76% and peer SK Hynix Inc lost 2.34%, while
battery maker LG Energy Solution Ltd declined 1.06%.
** Of the total 929 issues traded, 307 shares gained.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 46.9 billion
won ($35.3 million).
** The won gained nearly 1% against the dollar as
top South Korean economic policymakers said they took the Fed's
decision and remarks as positive for the domestic markets.
** The won was quoted at 1,327.7 per dollar on the onshore
settlement platform, 0.79% higher than its previous close at
1,338.2.
** In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,326.8
per dollar, up 0.6% on the day, while in non-deliverable forward
trading, its one-month contract was quoted at
1,324.0.
** The KOSPI has risen 11.20% so far this year and gained
4.7% in the previous 30 trading sessions.
** The won has lost 4.8% against the dollar so far this
year.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year
treasury bonds rose 0.17 points to 105.12.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
fell by 5.9 basis points (bps) to 3.228%, while the benchmark
10-year yield fell 4.2 bps to 3.287%.
($1 = 1,327.0900 won)
(Reporting by Choonsik Yoo; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
