Taiwan stocks rose, led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), on optimism earnings will improve after a survey showed US manufacturing had its biggest jump last month in more than 11 years. TSMC rose NT$2.30, or 5.4 percent, to NT$44.80.
"As US companies boost production and investment, they outsource more orders to Taiwan factories," said David Chu (儲祥生), who helps manage NT$2 billion (US$57 million) in stocks at Reliance Securities Investment Trust Co (德信投信). "I'm starting to accumulate electronics stocks."
The TAIEX added 101.45, or 2.2 percent, to close at 4,626.32, its biggest gain in a month. For the week, the index gained 1.7 percent.
Within the index, more than 27 stocks rose for every eight that dropped. The total value of trade was NT$94.14 billion.
Compal Electronics Inc (仁寶電腦) gained NT$1.50, or 4.1 percent, to NT$38.10. Taiwan's second-largest maker of notebook computers said sales last month jumped 24 percent from a year earlier to NT$10.8 billion.
Eva Airways Corp (長榮航空) rose NT$1, or 6.6 percent, to NT$16.20. Taiwan's second-largest airline applied to China for permission to operate charter flights to Shanghai during the Lunar New Year holidays.
First Financial Holding Co (第一金控) gained NT$0.90, or 3.7 per-cent, to NT$25.50. The company plans to raise as much as US$500 million overseas to improve its finances, a local newspaper reported.
Grand Pacific Petrochemical Co (國喬石化) climbed NT$0.85, or 6.3 percent, to NT$14.40. The maker of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, used to make computers and auto parts, raised its domestic prices for this month by 2.5 percent in response to higher prices of raw materials, said spokeswoman Vivian Ling.
HannStar Display Corp (瀚宇彩晶) rose NT$0.60, or 5.6 percent, to NT$11.30. Taiwan's fourth-largest maker of flat- panel displays raised prices of 15-inch screens used in notebook computers by US$5 to as much as US$195 a panel, the DigiTimes newspaper reported.
Silicon Integrated Systems Corp (矽統) added NT$0.60, or 2.2 percent, to NT$27.50.
Yuen Foong Yu Paper Manufacturing Co (永豐餘) gained NT$0.70, or 6.9 percent, to NT$10.80. Tai-wan's largest maker of paper products may raise prices after the Lunar New Year on Feb. 1, when it will assess market supply and demand. Demand for paper has surged after the government banned the use of plastic bags and tableware in supermarkets and restaurants.
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