REFILE-SMFG stock up on report to invest in Goldman

(Corrects gender of speaker in third paragraph)

TOKYO, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Shares of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.T) (SMFG) turned higher after Kyodo news agency said Japan's third-largest bank planned to invest in U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs [nTFA003038].

SMFG shares ended the morning session up 2.2 percent at 691,000 yen, off a low of 648,000 yen hit before the report.

A spokeswoman for SMFG said the bank did not have plans at this time to invest in Goldman Sachs. (Reporting by Yumiko Nishitani)