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KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers

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Korean won little changed against dollar

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South Korea benchmark bond yield flat

SEOUL, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares rose for a fourth straight session on Thursday, with automakers leading the gains ahead of their earnings releases. The Korean won and the benchmark bond yield were flat.

** The benchmark KOSPI rose 7.23 points, or 0.29%, to 2,435.80, as of 0129 GMT, hitting its highest intraday level since Dec. 5, 2022.

** Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp rose 1.69% and 2%, respectively, while chipmakers, battery makers and online service providers were mixed.

** Chipmaker Samsung Electronics rose 0.63%, while peer SK Hynix lost 0.33%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution gained 0.83%, while search engine Naver was down 0.25% and instant messenger Kakao was up 0.32%.

** Of the total 930 issues traded, 520 shares advanced.

** Tesla Inc's aggressive price cuts have ignited demand for its cars, Chief Executive Elon Musk said on Wednesday, after the global electric-vehicle maker released its fourth-quarter earnings that beat market expectations.

** "It raised hopes of robust demand for electric vehicles in upcoming quarters, ahead of earnings releases and guidances by local automakers later this week," said Shinhan Securities analyst Choi Yoo-june.

** South Korea's government promised strong support for exporters after the country posted its first economic contraction in 2/1-2 years due mainly to a crash in exports.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 204.7 billion won ($166.20 million) in their 16th buying session out of 17 this year.

** The won was quoted at 1,231.4 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.02% higher than its previous close.

** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds fell 0.01 point to 104.94.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 0.2 basis point to 3.283%, while the benchmark 10-year yield rose by 0.3 basis point to 3.233%. ($1 = 1,231.6600 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)