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KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers

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Korean won strengthens against dollar

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South Korea benchmark bond yield flat

SEOUL, March 21 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares rose on Tuesday as investor fears over a global banking crisis eased, with the focus shifting to the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy meeting due this week. The Korean won firmed, while the benchmark bond yield was flat.

** The benchmark KOSPI was up 12.34 points, or 0.52%, at 2,391.54, as of 0137 GMT.

** "There are risks remaining under the surface, pointing to a possibility of aftershocks," said Mirae Asset Securities analyst Kim Seok-hwan, adding that gains were also capped by caution ahead of the Fed's meeting.

** The U.S. central bank is mostly expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points this week.

** South Korean exports for the first 20 days of March fell 17.4% from the comparable period of last year, as demand from China remained weak, customs agency data showed.

** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose 0.33%, peer SK Hynix gained 0.48% and battery maker LG Energy Solution advanced 1.47%.

** Asian shares were steady after UBS Group's state-backed takeover of Credit Suisse appeared to close off one source of worry for the global banking sector.

** Of the total 931 issues traded, 483 shares rose.

** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 56.8 billion won ($43.41 million).

** The won was quoted at 1,308.5 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.12% higher than its previous close at 1,310.1.

** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds fell 0.11 points to 104.77.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 0.2 basis point to 3.267%, while the benchmark 10-year yield dropped 0.3 basis point to 3.302%.

($1 = 1,308.3600 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)