* KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers

* Korean won strengthens against U.S. dollar

* South Korea benchmark bond yield rises

* For the midday report, please click

SEOUL, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares ended at their highest level in a week on Friday, powered by a rally in chip heavyweights and Wall Street's strong overnight performance on positive U.S. data and reduced fears about the Omicron variant. Both the Korean won and the benchmark bond yield rose.

** The benchmark KOSPI closed higher by 14.26 points, or 0.48%, at 3,012.43, extending the rally to a fourth straight day.

** The benchmark index, however, fell 0.18% for the week, snapping a three-week winning streak.

** Chip heavyweights gained for a fourth straight day, with Samsung Electronics jumping to the highest level in more than four months and SK Hynix touching a 6-1/2-month high, as hopes for a rosy sector-wide outlook continued.

** The S&P 500 notched a record-high close on Thursday, with oil prices also rising, as strong U.S. jobs data and consumer spending put the world's largest economy on track for a strong finish to 2021.

** Further boosting sentiment, studies showed that Omicron carries a lower risk of hospitalisation, while Merck and Pfizer said their COVID-19 antiviral pills are effective against the variant.

** Foreigners were net buyers of 189.4 billion won ($159.68 million) worth of shares on the main board.

** The won ended at 1,186.6 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.11% higher than its previous close.

** In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,186.2, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract was quoted at 1,186.4.

** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds rose 0.08 point to 109.07.

** The benchmark 10-year yield rose by 0.1 basis points to 2.216%. ($1 = 1,186.0900 won) (Reporting by Joori Roh; Editing by Devika Syamnath)