Round-up of South Korean financial markets: **South Korean sharesclosed lower on Friday, but logged a second straight weekly gain on hopes the U.S. and Iran could secure a permanent ceasefire ahead of the expiry of truce next week. The won weakened, while the benchmarkbond yieldrose. *
* The benchmark KOSPI closed down 34.13 points, or 0.55%, at 6,191.92. For the week, the index was up 5.68%. *
* Among index heavyweights, chipmakerSamsung Electronicsfell 0.69%, while peerSK Hynixlost 2.34%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution climbed 0.48%. *
* Hyundai Motor and sister automaker Kia Corp were up 0.75% and up 0.82%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings added 4.05%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics fell 0.93%. *
* Iran could consider allowing ships to sail freely through the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack as part of proposals it has offered in negotiations with the United States, providing a deal is clinched to prevent renewed conflict, a source briefed by Tehran said. *
* South Korea’s finance minister said at a policy meeting that authorities aim to spend 85% of the 10.5 trillion won ($7.10 billion) earmarked for fuel cost relief within the first half of the year, following the approval by parliament of an extra budget. *
* Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 1,997.1 billion won. *
* In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,482.7 per dollar, down 0.2% on the day, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract was quoted at 1,481.4. *
* The KOSPI has risen 46.93% so far this year. ** The won has weakened 3.0% against the dollar this year. *
The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield rose by 3.3 basis points to 3.370%, while the benchmark 10-year yield rose by 4.7 basis points to 3.719%.
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