SEOUL, March 25 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares ended higher on Wednesday for a second consecutive session, as reports of a proposed U.S. month-long ceasefire and a 15-point plan for Iran boosted hopes of a breakthrough that could restore Gulf oil exports.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 climbed 88.29 points, or 1.59%, to end higher at 5,642.21. During the session, the index rose as much as 3.4%.

** One source confirmed to Reuters that Washington sent Iran a 15-point settlement proposal and Israel's Channel 12, quoting sources, said the U.S. was seeking a month-long ceasefire to discuss the 15-point plan.

** Tehran has denied any direct negotiations, with the state-run IRNA news agency quoting a military spokesperson on Wednesday as saying the United States is effectively "negotiating with itself."

** "The domestic stock market cut gains as there still remains uncertainty over his words and actions," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.

** Among index heavyweights, South Korean chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS fell 0.37%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 0.91% on a plan to list its shares in the U.S. in the second half of 2026.

** Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS climbed 0.38%, while Hyundai Motor 005380.KS rose 1.83%. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS added 0.74%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS climbed 2.46%.

** Of the total 923 traded issues, 719 shares advanced, while 166 declined.

** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 1.3 trillion won ($867.07 million).

** The won was quoted at 1,499.7 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.01% higher than its previous close at 1,499.9.

** South Korea's pension fund will work to raise its strategic hedging ratio over the long term to help stabilize the fragile won, Reuters reported.

** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 lost 0.03 point to 103.54.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell 0.1 basis points to 3.563%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR rose by 1.1 basis points to 3.861%.

($1 = 1,499.3000 won)