South Korean shares fall on profit-taking, but post best week in two months

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KOSPI falls, foreigners net buyers

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Korean won weakens against dollar

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South Korea benchmark bond yield falls

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SEOUL, March 24 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares retreated on Friday from a two-week peak hit a day earlier mainly due to profit-taking, but the benchmark stock index posted its biggest weekly rise in two months as fears eased about a global banking crisis.

** The Korean won weakened more than 1%, but posted its second straight weekly gain. The benchmark bond yield dropped to its lowest level since early February.

** The benchmark KOSPI closed down 9.52 points, or 0.39%, at 2,414.96, snapping a three-session rally.

** The KOSPI rose 0.80% for the week, logging its second consecutive gain and biggest rise since late January.

** U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reiterated on Thursday that she was prepared to take further action to ensure that Americans’ bank deposits were safe, in an effort to ease worries about banking troubles.

** South Korean authorities will keep monitoring for any domestic impact from banking troubles in the United States and Europe, the finance minister said on Friday.

** “Investors were seen booking profits as stock prices recovered the levels traded prior to the banking crisis,” said Na Jeong-hwan, an analyst at NH Investment and Securities.

** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose 1.12%, but peer SK Hynix lost 1.36% and battery maker LG Energy Solution fell 1.04%.

** Of the total 932 issues traded, 467 shares advanced.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 47.6 billion won ($36.82 million).

** The won ended onshore trade at 1,294.3 per dollar, 1.24% lower than its previous close at 1,278.3.

** The currency ended the week 0.61% higher, building on a 1.69% jump in the previous week.

** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds rose 0.18 point to 105.32.

** The most liquid three-year yield fell by 5.5 basis points to 3.147%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 5.1 basis points to 3.211%. ($1 = 1,292.8700 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)