South Korean shares hit record high as chipmakers rise on Wall Street boost

Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares hit an all-time high on Tuesday, as chipmakers jumped on a boost from Wall Street.

** The benchmark KOSPI rose 26.38 points, or 0.77%, to highest-ever 3,433.69 as of 0124 GMT, extending its gains to an eleventh straight session.


** Chipmaker Samsung Electronics advanced 1.31% and peer SK Hynix gained 3.63%, tracking Wall Street's overnight gains on artificial intelligence optimism.

** Google parent Alphabet touched a record high on Monday, racing past $3 trillion in market capitalisation. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rose 1%.

** Among other index heavyweights, battery maker LG Energy Solution added 0.14%. Hyundai Motor rose 0.35% and sister automaker Kia fell 0.69%.

** Steelmaker POSCO Holdings added 0.35% and drugmaker Samsung BioLogics fell 0.38%.

** Of the total 929 traded issues, 352 advanced and 519 declined.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 426.9 billion won ($308.1 million).

** The won was quoted at 1,385.4 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.09% above Monday's close of 1,386.6.

** In the money and debt markets, September futures on three-year treasury bonds added 0.04 point to 107.28.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell 0.9 basis point to 2.434%, while the benchmark 10-year yield lost 3.2 basis points to 2.789%. ($1 = 1,385.5100 won).