* KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
* Korean won weakens against U.S. dollar
* South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
* For the midday report, please click
SEOUL, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares closed little changed on Tuesday as New Year optimism was offset by a stronger dollar holding back foreign investors and institutional investors continuing to offload shares after the ex-dividend date.
** The Korean won ended lower, after having hit a 12-week low earlier in the day, while the benchmark bond yield rose.
** The benchmark KOSPI ended up 0.47 points, or 0.02%, at 2,989.24, following a 0.37% gain on Monday.
** Among heavyweights, technology giant Samsung Electronics rose 0.13%, while platform company Naver fell 2.79%.
** The U.S. dollar strengthened as money markets were seen having fully priced in a first U.S. rate increase by May, and two more by the end of 2022, CME Group's FedWatch programme showed.
** That offset a boost from Wall Street, which was driven overnight by strong gains in Apple and Tesla.
** "Institutional investors continued their sell-off since the ex-dividend date (of South Korean equities) last week, while the stronger dollar limited investment from foreign investors," said Daishin Securities' analyst Lee Kyoung-min.
** On the main board, foreigners bought net 93.8 billion won ($78.56 million) worth of shares.
** The won was quoted at 1,194.1 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.19% lower than its previous close. It fell as much as 0.37% in early trade to its lowest level since Oct. 13.
** In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,193.9, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract was quoted at 1,194.7.
** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds fell 0.01 point to 108.84.
** The most liquid 3-year Korean treasury bond yield rose by 0.9 basis point to 1.865%. ($1 = 1,193.9400 won) (Reporting by Joori Roh; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)