*
KOSPI flat, foreigners net buyers
*
Korean won strengthens against dollar
*
South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
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For the midday report, please click May 4 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares closed steady on Thursday, recovering from early losses and finishing the holiday-shortened week flat, as investors found comfort in the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting.
** The early losses were widely attributed to concerns over
a potential contagion in the U.S. banking sector.
** The benchmark KOSPI held its ground at 2,500.94.
The index closed flat for the week, during which there were only
three trading sessions due to holidays.
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics fell
0.46% and peer SK Hynix lost 1.22%, while battery
maker LG Energy Solution declined 0.53%.
** Of the total 931 issues traded, 431 shares gained.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 40.2 billion
won ($30.38 million).
** The won gained as much as 1.33% before ending
the onshore trading up 1.16% against the dollar as top South
Korean economic policymakers said they took the Fed's decision
and remarks as positive for the domestic markets.
** In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,322.9
per dollar, up 0.9% on the day, while in non-deliverable forward
trading its one-month contract was quoted at
1,320.8.
** The KOSPI has risen 11.83% so far this year, and gained
4.7% in the previous 30 trading sessions.
** The won lost 4.4% against the dollar so far this year.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year
treasury bonds rose 0.24 points to 105.19.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
fell by 8.5 basis points to 3.202%, while the benchmark 10-year
yield fell by 4.9 basis points to 3.280%.
($1 = 1,323.1700 won) (Reporting by Choonsik Yoo; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
