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KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers

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Korean won weakens against dollar

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South Korea benchmark bond yield rises

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For the midday report, please click

SEOUL, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares rose on Friday, led by heavyweight chipmakers and battery manufacturers, and posted their third consecutive weekly gain. The Korean won weakened, while the benchmark bond yield rose.

** The benchmark KOSPI ended 14.92 points, or 0.63%, higher at 2,395.26. It temporarily turned down amid thin trading ahead of a long holiday period.

** The KOSPI rose 0.38% this week and 7.10% in last three weeks.

** South Korea's financial markets will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 23-24, to observe the Lunar New Year holidays.

** "Trading volume was shallow ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday period, capping gains," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.

** South Korea's economy is forecast to have contracted in the fourth quarter, putting in its worst performance in 2-1/2 years, a Reuters poll found.

** Chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rose 0.49% and 2.46%, respectively.

** Battery maker LG Energy Solution jumped 2.96%, while peers Samsung SDI and SK Innovation added more than 1% each.

** Of the total 934 issues traded, 568 shares gained.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 230.7 billion won ($186.66 million), in their 14th buying session out of 15 in 2023 so far, bringing their year-to-date purchase to 4.25 trillion won.

** The won ended onshore trade 0.28% lower at 1,235.5 per dollar. It still gained 0.47% for the week.

** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds fell 0.21 point to 104.85.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield rose by 9.4 basis points to 3.334%, while the benchmark 10-year yield rose by 6.8 basis points to 3.281%. ($1 = 1,235.9600 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)