*

KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers

*

Korean won strengthens against dollar

*

South Korea benchmark bond yield flat

SEOUL, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares rose on Monday, lifted by hopes of an easing in China's COVID-19 restrictions and expectations that the recent U.S. payrolls data may not stop the Federal Reserve from slowing the pace of its interest rate hikes.

** The Korean won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield traded flat.

** The benchmark KOSPI rose 4.60 points, or 0.19%, to 2,438.93 as of 0130 GMT, reversing its early loss of as much as 0.45%.

** More Chinese cities announced an easing of coronavirus curbs on Sunday as the world's second-biggest economy tries to make its zero-COVID policy more targeted and less onerous after unprecedented protests against restrictions last weekend.

** U.S. employers hired more workers than expected in November and increased wages, but that will probably not stop the Federal Reserve from slowing the pace of its interest rate hikes starting this month.

** "The local market started lower on upbeat payrolls data from the United States, but reversed the trend on a perception that it would not affect the Fed's policy stance," said Mirae Asset Securities' analyst Kim Seok-hwan.

** "By sector, beneficiaries of China's reopening, such as cosmetics and travel stocks, led the gains."

** Cosmetics stocks Amorepacific Corp and Tonymoly jumped 3.42% and 8.74% each. In the airline sector, low-cost carriers saw sharper gains than major ones, with Jejuair up 9.33% and Jin Air up 5.30%.

** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose 1.16% and peer SK Hynix gained 0.37%, but battery maker LG Energy Solution dropped 3.08%.

** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 105.0 billion won ($81.04 million) on the main board.

** The won was quoted at 1,294.8 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.39% higher than its previous close.

** In money and debt markets, December futures on three-year treasury bonds fell 0.01 point to 103.87.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield was flat at 3.617%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 0.4 basis point to 3.581%. ($1 = 1,295.7300 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; editing by Uttaresh.V)