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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, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares rose for a second session on Wednesday on continued hopes China will ease its tough COVID-19 policies, with investors shrugging off weak manufacturing data both from China and at home. The Korean won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.

** The benchmark KOSPI extended gains to rise 12.94 points, or 0.53%, to 2,446.33 as of 0153 GMT, following the 1.04% jump a day before.

** Pressured by rising COVID cases and increasing lockdowns, China's factory activity contracted at a faster pace in November, its official manufacturing purchasing managers' index showed, which came in below expectations.

** South Korea's factory output also dropped in October by more than expected and at the fastest pace in nearly 2-1/2 years, according to government data.

** "But, what matters is what Chinese government will do going forward," said Kim Seok-hwan, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities. "The local market continued a robust trend on hopes of China gradually easing COVID-19 policies."

** Among heavyweights, technology giant Samsung Electronics rose 0.99% and peer SK Hynix gained 0.60%, but battery maker LG Energy Solution declined 1.23%.

** Of the total 930 traded issues, 633 shares rose.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 62.9 billion won ($47.57 million) on the main board.

** The won was quoted at 1,325.6 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.08% higher than its previous close.

** In money and debt markets, December futures on three-year treasury bonds rose 0.05 point to 103.70.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 3.4 basis points to 3.689%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 3.2 basis points to 3.640%. ($1 = 1,322.3900 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Kim Coghill)