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KOSPI rises over 1%, foreigners net buyers

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Korean won strengthens against dollar

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South Korea benchmark bond yield falls

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For the midday report, please click

SEOUL, March 22 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares jumped on Wednesday as commitment by the U.S. to prevent a wider banking crisis lifted risk appetite, with the benchmark index returning to levels traded two weeks ago.

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

** The KOSPI rose 28.61 points, or 1.20%, to 2,416.96 by the close, building on a 0.39% gain in the previous session.

** It logged back-to-back gains for the first time in two weeks and closed at its highest since March 9, or at 2.9% higher than the latest trough.

** U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told bankers on Tuesday that she was prepared to intervene to protect depositors in smaller U.S. banks suffering deposit runs that threaten further contagion amid the worst financial system turmoil in more than a decade.

** Investors are now focused on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting outcome due later in the day, where the central bank is expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points (bps).

** "Despite risk sentiment, the mood is cautious ahead of the Fed meeting's outcome, capping further gains," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.

** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose 1.33%, peer SK Hynix gained 3.95%, and battery maker LG Energy Solution jumped 4.95%.

** Most other heavyweights also rose, including carmakers and online service providers, but they were still a minority of 339 gainers out of 932 traded issues.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 202.5 billion won ($154.9 million).

** The won ended onshore trade at 1,307.7 per dollar, 0.27% higher than its previous close.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 0.4 bps to 3.290%, while the benchmark 10-year yield was down by 1.1 bps to 3.293%. ($1 = 1,307.6900 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Sonia Cheema)