* KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers

* Korean won strengthens against U.S. dollar

* South Korea benchmark bond yield rises

* For the midday report, please click

SEOUL, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares closed at their highest level in more than six weeks on Thursday, as test data showing that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine offered some protection against the Omicron coronavirus variant boosted risk appetite.

** The Korean won ended at a one-month high, while the benchmark bond yield also rose.

** The benchmark KOSPI closed up 27.77 points, or 0.93%, at 3,029.57, its highest since Oct. 26 and rallying for a seventh straight session.

** Chip giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix gained 1.03% and 2.92%, respectively, while platform company Naver added 1.14%.

** Pfizer and BioNTech said on Wednesday their three-shot course of the COVID-19 vaccine was able to neutralise the Omicron variant in a laboratory test and they could deliver an upgraded vaccine in March 2022 if needed.

** At home, South Korea reported 7,102 new coronavirus cases for Wednesday following a record 7,175 cases a day earlier. Some 22 new Omicron cases were found, bringing up the tally to 60 so far.

** An imminent U.S. inflation data puts the interest rates outlook firmly back in focus, while the Federal Reserve is expected to provide indications on timing of rate hikes at its meeting next week.

** Foreigners were net sellers of 146.5 billion won ($124.76 million) worth of shares.

** The won ended at 1,174.5 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, the highest close since Nov. 3 and 0.12% higher than the previous session.

** In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,174.4, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract was quoted at 1,174.1.

** In money and debt markets, December futures on three-year treasury bonds rose 0.07 point to 109.16.

** The benchmark 10-year yield rose by 0.3 basis points to 2.189%. ($1 = 1,174.2600 won) (Reporting by Joori Roh; Editing by Rashmi Aich)