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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

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For the midday report, please click

SEOUL, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares rose for a second straight session on Thursday, in line with the sentiment across global markets after U.S. Federal Reserve's December meeting minutes, with online platform giants leading the gains.

** The Korean won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.

** The benchmark KOSPI ended 8.67 points, or 0.38%, higher at 2,264.65. It followed a 1.68% jump in the previous session.

** All officials at the Fed's December policy meeting agreed the U.S. central bank should slow the pace of its aggressive interest rate increases, the minutes showed.

** "It was hawkish on surface, but in detail, there was also emphasis on flexible responses," said Seo Jung-hun, analyst at Samsung Securities.

** Among heavyweights, online platform stocks were biggest gainers. The stocks tracked a rally in Chinese peers amid increasing hopes for a regulatory easing.

** Search engine Naver rose 1.92%, instant messenger Kakao climbed 3.59%, while its financial service affiliates Kakaobank and Kakaopay each added 7.48% and 6.67%.

** Chipmakers advanced, but automakers and battery manufacturers declined. Of the total 933 issues traded, 501 shares gained.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 508.7 billion won ($400.66 million).

** The won ended onshore trade at 1,269.4 per dollar, up 0.18%.

** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds fell 0.10 point to 103.77.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield rose by 0.7 basis points to 3.639%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 2.7 basis points to 3.571%. ($1 = 1,269.6400 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; editing by Uttaresh.V)