Taiwan stocks rose for the first day in six, paced by MediaTek Inc (聯發科技) after the nation's second-largest chip designer reported August sales surged 48 percent from a year earlier.
The TAIEX rose 73.90, or 1.7 percent, to 4533.27, its biggest percentage gain since Aug. 9. More than 11 stocks rose for every eight that fell in the broad index. The total value of trade was NT$44.16 billion.
The benchmark also got a boost after government funds bought shares, a Chinese-language newspaper Web site reported.
MediaTek's "late rally was probably related to government buying," said Ellen Shen, who manages NT$250 million (US$7 million) in stocks at Ta Chong Investment Trust Corp (大眾投信). "Overall investor confidence is poor."
MediaTek surged NT$21, or 6.8 percent, to NT$329. The chip designer reported August sales surged a fifth from July to NT$2.1 billion. Sales were NT$1.4 billion in the same period a year ago.
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc (日月光) climbed 80 cents, or 4.3 percent, to NT$19.40. The company said sales in August rose more than two- fifths from a year earlier, and 4.3 percent from July to NT$4 billion.
AU Optronics Corp (友達光電) rose 70 cents, or 3.1 percent, to NT$23.50. The flat-panel displays maker reported August sales rose nine-tenths from a year earlier to NT$5.43 billion.
Nanya Technology Corp (南亞科技) fell 90 cents, or 2.9 percent, to NT$30. Orders for memory chips may be delayed until the beginning of next year as computer demand from schools ahead of their new academic years falls below expectations, a local Chinese-language newspaper reported, citing Kingston Technology Co.
Chinatrust Financial Holding Co (中信銀金控) rose 30 cents, or 1.2 percent, to NT$25. The company said it planned to buy back as much as NT$3 billion of its shares, or 2.2 percent of its total outstanding shares.
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