Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose on Friday and were set to log a fifth week of gains, as U.S. data suggested the Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates twice this year. The won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.
** The benchmark KOSPI 
KOSPI added 1.31 points, or 0.05%, to 2,622.67 as of 01:10 GMT. It is up 1.79% so far this week.
** Rate cut expectations in the U.S. often drive similar optimism in South Korea’s interest rate outlook.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 
005930 fell 0.87%, while peer SK Hynix 
000660 gained 2.74%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 
373220 slid 4.07%.
** U.S. producer prices posted a surprise fall in April as the cost of services declined by the most since 2009, hurt by ebbing demand for air travel and hotel accommodation.
** Hyundai Motor 
005380 and sister automaker Kia 
000270 gained 0.47% and 0.66%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 
005490 shed 0.8%. Drugmaker Samsung Biologics 207940 rose 0.10%.
** Of the total 933 traded issues, 305 advanced and 586 declined.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 47.8 billion won ($34.2 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,397.9 per U.S. dollar on the onshore settlement platform 
USDKRW, 0.01% higher than Thursday’s close of 1,398.0.
** In offshore trading, the won USDKRW was quoted at 1,397.3 per dollar, down 0.1% on the day, while in non-deliverable forward trading, its one-month contract (KRW1MNDFOR=) was quoted at 1,394.2.
** The KOSPI has risen 9.30% year-to-date, while the won has strengthened 5.3% against the dollar in the same period.
** In the money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds (KTBc1) gained 0.1 point to 107.65.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield (KR3YT=RR) fell 4.0 basis points to 2.321%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10 fell 4.9 basis points to 2.681%.
($1 = 1,397.7000 won)