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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 falls
SEOUL, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares recovered early losses and turned higher on Wednesday, with heavyweight chipmakers leading the gains. The won weakened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.
** The benchmark KOSPI was up 9.36 points, or 0.42%, at 2,228.04 by 0102 GMT, reversing its 0.9% loss in early trade.
** The KOSPI is set to end the four-session losing streak through Wednesday, that dragged the index to its lowest level since Oct. 21.
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose 2.17% and peer SK Hynix gained 4.76%, despite a 1.2% drop in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index overnight.
** "Semiconductor stocks are leading the market on the government's tax cut plans and early hopes for a turnaround of the industry cycle," said Seo Sang-young, analyst at Mirae Asset Securities.
** South Korea said on Tuesday it plans to offer large tax breaks to semiconductor and other technology companies investing at home to strengthen its supply-chain security while boosting the economy.
** Battery maker LG Energy Solution declined 2.04%, after its customer Telsa dropped more than 10% on less-than-expected quarterly deliveries. Peers Samsung SDI and SK Innovation fell 2.15% and 1.00%, respectively.
** Automakers traded flat, while platform stocks of Naver and Kakao each rose more than 1%.
** Of the total 931 issues traded, 451 shares gained.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 82.0 billion won ($64.29 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,275.5 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.35% lower than its previous close.
** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds rose 0.11 point to 103.81.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 0.2 basis points to 3.657%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 4.1 basis points to 3.620%. ($1 = 1,275.4000 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
