* KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers
* Korean won strengthens against dollar
* South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
SEOUL, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose on Monday as softer U.S. economic data last week fuelled optimism the Federal Reserve is about to end it's tightening cycle. The won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.
** The benchmark KOSPI rose 18.93 points, or 0.77%, to 2,488.78 by 02:38 GMT.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics rose 0.41% and peer SK Hynix gained 1.31%, while battery maker LG Energy Solution climbed 1.97%.
** Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Susan Collins said Friday while evidence is growing that inflation is easing, she's not yet ready to rule out more rate hikes should they be needed.
** Hyundai Motor shed 0.43% and sister automaker Kia Corp lost 0.82%, while search engine Naver and instant messenger Kakao were up 0.50% and up 0.95%, respectively.
** Of the total 935 traded issues, 650 shares advanced, while 232 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 25.3 billion won on the main board.
** The won was quoted at 1,292.5 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.34% higher than its previous close.
** In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,289.4 per dollar, up 0.4% on the day, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract was quoted at 1,286.8.
** The KOSPI has risen 11.29% so far this year, but gained 2.8% in the previous 30 trading sessions.
** The won has lost 2.2% against the dollar so far this year.
** In money and debt markets, December futures on three-year treasury bonds rose 0.08 point to 103.73.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 2.1 basis points to 3.662%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 2.1 basis points to 3.768%. (Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
