* KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
* Korean won strengthens against dollar
* South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
* For the midday report, please click
SEOUL, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose on Monday as investors took a dovish hint from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's reminder that monetary policies are working to slow the economy as intended. The won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.
** The benchmark KOSPI closed up 9.97 points, or 0.40%, at 2,514.98.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics rose 0.83% and peer SK Hynix lost 1.13%, while battery maker LG Energy Solution climbed 0.35%.
** Investors interpreted Powell's remarks as dovish comments while the won's gain against the dollar created positive sentiment, said Lee Kyoung-min, analyst at Daishin Securities.
** Hyundai Motor shed 0.66% and sister automaker Kia Corp lost 1.98%, while search engine Naver and instant messenger Kakao were up 2.18% and up 2.21%, respectively.
** Noting that a key measure of inflation averaged 2.5% over the six months ending in October, near the Fed's 2% target, Powell said it was clear that U.S. monetary policy was slowing the economy as expected with a benchmark overnight interest rate "well into restrictive territory."
** Of the total 935 traded issues, 461 shares advanced, while 412 declined.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 258.8 billion won ($198.44 million) on the main board on Monday.
** The won ended onshore trade at 1,304.0 per dollar, 0.14% higher than its previous close at 1,305.8.
** In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,304.0 per dollar, down 0.8% on the day, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract was quoted at 1,301.2.
** The KOSPI has risen 12.46% so far this year, and gained 5.5% in the previous 30 trading sessions.
** The won has lost 3.0% against the dollar so far this year.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 4 basis points to 3.537%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 6.5 basis points to 3.624%. ($1 = 1,304.1400 won) (Reporting by Cynthia Kim and Youn Ah Moon; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)