Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

 

** South Korean shares fell on Monday, as investors remained cautious despite a Swiss bank Credit Suisse takeover deal hurriedly engineered to calm global markets. The Korean won weakened, while the benchmark bond yield dropped.

** The benchmark KOSPI closed down 16.49 points, or 0.69% at 2,379.20.

** Prior to Asian trade hours, Swiss authorities engineered UBS takeover of Credit Suisse and global central banks agreed on a liquidity measure to provide relief across markets from a potential banking sector turmoil.

** "But, the issue has not been resolved for all, and there are concerns that the banking trouble may spill into an economic one," Mirae Asset Securities analyst Seo Sang-young said.

** Investors' focus is also on the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision meeting later this week, where the U.S. central bank is expected to deliver a 25 basis point (bp) hike.

** Among the index heavyweights, chipmakers, automakers and battery manufacturers fell, but online platform operators Naver and Kakao jumped more than 1% each. Biopharmaceutical stocks also rose.

** The Korea Exchange Bank Equity Index pared early gains to end flat. The Finance-major Index and Securities-minor Index ended down 0.73% and up 0.14%, respectively.

** Of the total 933 issues traded, 448 shares advanced.

** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 206.2 billion won ($157.30 million).

** The won ended onshore trade at 1,310.1 per dollar, 0.60% lower than its previous close at 1,302.2.

** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds jumped 0.42 points to 104.88.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell 14.7 bps to 3.269%, while the benchmark 10-year yield dropped 10.2 bps to 3.305%. ($1 = 1,310.8700 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)