South Korean shares climb to 9-month high on rate cut, US tariff ruling

• KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
• Korean won weakens against dollar
• South Korea benchmark bond yield steady

SEOUL, May 29 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares climbed more than 1% on Thursday to their highest levels in nine months, as investors cheered the central bank's decision to cut interest rates and a U.S. court's move to block President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 was up 35.98 points, or 1.35%, at 2,706.33, as of 0104 GMT, its highest level since August 26, 2024.

** The Bank of Korea cut interest rates for a fourth time in the current easing cycle just days ahead of a snap presidential election to bolster an economic recovery that's been clouded by U.S. tariffs.

** South Korea's exports are expected to have fallen in May for the first time in four months, as the impact of U.S. tariffs offset strong demand for semiconductors, according to a Reuters poll.

** Meanwhile, a U.S. trade court on Wednesday blocked Trump's tariffs from going into effect in a sweeping ruling that the president overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from nations that sell more to the United States than they buy.

** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 0.18%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 1.68%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 0.35%.

** Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were up 1.67% and up 3.03%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS added 1.00%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS fell 0.88%.

** Of the total 936 traded issues, 719 shares advanced, while 170 declined.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 80.9 billion won ($58.45 million).

** The won was quoted at 1,381.9 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.43% lower than its previous close at 1,376.0.

** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 lost 0.04 point to 107.59.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR rose 1.1 basis points to 2.320%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR rose 0.3 basis point to 2.720%.

($1 = 1,384.0800 won)