Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose to a record close on Friday, and logged a second straight weekly gain, as brokerages rallied on the record-breaking performance of the local stock market that doubled in value in the past year. The won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.
** The benchmark KOSPI KRX:KOSPI closed up 131.28 points, or 2.31%, at 5,808.53.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics KRX:005930 rose 0.05%, while peer SK Hynix KRX:000660 gained 6.15%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution KRX:373220 slid 0.50%.
** Shares of Daishin Securities KRX:003540, Samsung Securities KRX:016360 gained 7.93% and 2.69%, respectively, while Mirae Asset Securities KRX:006800 was up 0.6%.
** Hyundai Motor KRX:005380 and sister automaker Kia Corp KRX:000270 were down 0.78% and up 1.06%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings KRX:005490 added 1.29%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics KRX:207940 rose 0.93%.
** Of the total 926 traded issues, 546 shares advanced, while 341 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 742.8 billion won.
** The won was quoted at 1,447.3 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform FX_IDC:USDKRW, 0.11% higher than its previous close at 1,448.9.
** In offshore trading, the won FX_IDC:USDKRW was quoted at 1,446.6 per dollar, up 0.2% on the day, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract (KRW1MNDFOR=) was quoted at 1,445.8.
** The KOSPI has risen 37.83% so far this year. The won has weakened 0.5% against the dollar this year.
** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds (KTBc1) gained 0.15 point to 105.17.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield (KR3YT=RR) fell by 2.6 basis points to 3.149%, while the benchmark 10-year yield TVC:KR10 fell by 1.1 basis points to 3.574%.