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Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rebounded after early losses on Thursday, as strong foreign inflows into the local market continued. The Korean won weakened, while the benchmark bond yield dropped.
** The benchmark KOSPI was up 4.37 points, or 0.18%, at 2,372.69 as of 0133 GMT, after falling 0.58% earlier.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 217.1 billion won ($175.31 million), in their seventh consecutive session of buying.
** They have bought local shares worth more than 3.6 trillion won in 2023, with net purchases in 13 of 14 sessions.
** The stock market was mostly in a subdued mood, tracking Wall Street losses, but chipmakers - major stocks of foreign interest - gained, leading the benchmark index higher.
** "The strong inflow of foreign money seems to be based on dollar reversing course after weaker-than-expected producer inflation in the United States," said Kim Seok-hwan, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities.
** U.S. producer prices fell more than expected in December, data showed overnight, offering more evidence that inflation was receding.
** South Korea's financial regulator said it would scrap a requirement that foreign investors must register with domestic authorities in order to trade Korean stocks, in a move to encourage investment from overseas.
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose 0.66% and peer SK Hynix gained 0.12%, but battery maker LG Energy Solution dropped 1.42%. Of the total 931 issues traded, 395 shares gained.
** The won was quoted at 1,238.6 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.10% lower than its previous close.
** March futures on three-year treasury bonds rose 0.22 point to 104.97.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 8.9 basis points (bps) to 3.306%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 9.8 bps to 3.245%. ($1 = 1,238.4100 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)