South Korean shares end slightly lower ahead of key data; post monthly rise

Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares ended slightly lower on Tuesday, as investors took a cautious stance ahead of key data releases at home and abroad, but still posted a monthly gain.

** The benchmark KOSPI KOSPI closed down 6.61 points, or 0.19%, at 3,424.60.

** For the month, the KOSPI rose 7.49%, after snapping a four-month rally in August.

** South Korea's exports likely rose in September on strong technology demand, with headline growth seen hitting a 13-month high on calendar effects, according to a Reuters poll. The data will be released on Wednesday.

** South Korea's factory output rose in August, data showed.

** In global financial markets, focus is on the U.S. payrolls data, due later this week.

** "Investor caution has heightened amid worries about major employment data releases being delayed due to a U.S. federal government shutdown," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.

** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930 fell 0.36%, while peer SK Hynix 000660 lost 0.43%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220 slid 1.14%.

** Hyundai Motor 005380 and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270 were unchanged. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490 shed 0.90%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940 fell 0.60%.

** Of the total 929 traded issues, 281 shares advanced, while 585 declined.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 13.7 billion won ($9.77 million).

** The won was quoted at 1,403.5 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform USDKRW, 0.22% lower than its previous close at 1,400.4.

** In money and debt markets, December futures on three-year treasury bonds (KTBc1) lost 0.07 point to 106.79.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield (KR3YT=RR) rose by 1.6 basis points to 2.579%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10 fell by 0.3 basis point to 2.935%.

($1 = 1,402.5300 won)