South Korean shares extend record-setting rally; BOK holds rates

SEOUL, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares rose to an all-time high on Thursday as worries eased over the won's weakness after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's comments, while the central bank left interest rates unchanged as expected.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 was up 20.63 points, or 0.44%, at 4,743.73, as of 0054 GMT, extending gains to a 10th session.

** The won was quoted 0.25% lower at 1,467.6 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC. On Wednesday, the currency jumped 1%, rebounding from its lowest levels since late December.

** U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday he had discussed the recent depreciation of the won with South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, adding that it was not in line with South Korea's economic fundamentals.

** The Bank of Korea kept interest rates unchanged on Thursday to safeguard currency market stability. Governor Rhee Chang-yong will hold a press conference at 0210 GMT.

** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 0.43%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS lost 0.34%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 0.90%.

** Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were down 0.12% and up 1.40%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS added 0.72%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS rose 1.40%.

** Of the total 927 traded issues, 349 shares advanced, while 532 declined.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 55.0 billion won ($37.51 million).

** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 gained 0.04 point to 105.38.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell by 1.5 basis points to 2.986%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell by 2.4 basis points to 3.392%.

($1 = 1,466.4000 won)

(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))