South Korean shares climb as chipmakers shrug off US tariff threat

• KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers
• Korean won little changed against dollar
• South Korea benchmark bond yield steady

SEOUL, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares rose on Thursday, as heavyweight chipmakers advanced despite U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threat.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 was up 18.68 points, or 0.58%, at 3,216.82 as of 0147 GMT.

** The United States will impose a tariff of about 100% on semiconductor chips imported from countries not producing in America or planning to do so, Trump said on Wednesday.

** South Korea's top trade envoy Yeo Han-koo said on Thursday that chipmakers Samsung Electronics 005930.KS and SK Hynix 000660.KS will not be subject to 100% U.S. tariffs on chips, citing Trump's assurance that tariffs on South Korean chipmakers would be applied under the most favourable terms.

** "The semiconductor industry cycle is expected to remain robust even if the U.S. imposes tariffs," an official from the Bank of Korea said, after data indicated that South Korea's current account posted a record surplus in June on rising chip exports.

** Shares of Samsung Electronics rose 2.33%, supported by Apple's AAPL.O announcement that the South Korean chipmaker will supply chips from its production plant in Texas for Apple products including iPhones.

** Peer SK Hynix 000660.KS recouped early losses of more than 3% to trade 0.29% higher.

** Of the total 932 traded issues, 395 shares advanced, while 478 declined.

** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 25.9 billion won ($18.72 million).

** The won was quoted at 1,387.5 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.08% lower than its previous close at 1,386.4.

** In money and debt markets, September futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 gained 0.08 point to 107.46.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell by 2.9 basis points to 2.398%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell 1 basis point to 2.770%.

($1 = 1,383.9000 won)