South Korean shares, won drop on Trump tariffs

SEOUL, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

South Korean shares closed down on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China, sparking fears of a hit to global trade demand. The won weakened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.

The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed down 63.42 points, or 2.52%, at 2,453.95.

Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS fell 2.67% and peer SK Hynix 000660.KS lost 4.17%, while battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 4.40%.

Hyundai Motor 005380.KS shed 1.94% and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS lost 5.78%, while search engine Naver 035420.KS and instant messenger Kakao 035720.KS were up 0.23% and up 9.00%, respectively.

South Korean exports fell in January, declining for the first time in 16 months and at the sharpest pace in 1-1/2 years due to U.S. tariff uncertainty and unfavourable calendar effects, preliminary data released on Saturday showed.

OpenAI Founder Altman will be visiting South Korea for an artificial intelligence event and meet with business leaders, local Yonhap News reported.

Of the total 942 traded issues, 96 shares advanced, while 825 declined.

Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 870.6 billion won ($593.93 million).

The won was quoted at 1,467.2 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.93% lower than its previous close.

In offshore trading, the won KRW= was quoted at 1,465.5 per dollar, down 0.7%, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract KRW1MNDFOR= was quoted at 1,463.5.

The won has gained 0.3% against the dollar so far this year.

In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 rose 0.02 point to 106.90.

The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell 0.3 basis point to 2.577%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR slipped 1.5 bps to 2.840%.

($1 = 1,465.8400 won)