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KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
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Korean won strengthens against dollar
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South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
SEOUL, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose 1% on Wednesday, tracking overnight Wall Street gains on lower-than-expected inflation data, while investors also eyed the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy meeting's outcome. The won jumped, while the benchmark bond yield fell.
** The benchmark KOSPI rose 24.51 points, or 1.03%, to 2,396.91 as of 0121 GMT. The index was set for its best session in two weeks.
** U.S. consumer prices rose less than expected for a second straight month in November and posted the smallest annual increase in nearly a year.
** "It may strengthen the voice of the doves at the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy meeting," said Kim Seok-hwan, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities.
** Investors' focus is now shifted to the Fed's monetary policy decision due later in the day, amid expectations for a smaller 50-bp rate hike.
** Chipmaker Samsung Electronics rose 1.17%, but peer SK Hynix lost 0.36%, while battery maker LG Energy Solution advanced 0.30%.
** Most heavyweights saw gains of more than 1%, including automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp, platform giants Naver and Kakao, and biopharmaceutical stocks such as Samsung Biologics and Celltrion.
** Of the total 932 issues traded, 600 shares gained.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 44.9 billion won ($34.67 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,294.9 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.86% higher than its previous close at 1,306.0.
** In money and debt markets, December futures on three-year treasury bonds rose 0.18 points to 103.94.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 6.3 basis points to 3.562%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 4.0 basis points to 3.429%. ($1 = 1,295.1800 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
