Stocks climbed for a sixth session yesterday. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world's largest supplier of made-to-order computer chips, led rivals higher after saying sales last month jumped 14 percent from a year ago.
Computer-related shares such as Quanta Computer Inc (
"Demand in the technology sector has certainly improved," said Fam Hsieh, who manages the US$35 million Balance Fund at Grand Cathay Securities Trust Co (
"Companies like TSMC have proved with concrete sales figures that this isn't just hype," Hsieh said.
The TAIEX added 45.71, or 0.9 percent, to close at5,367.97, its highest in almost a year. The benchmark has surged 10 percent this month. About six shares gained for every five that declined. July futures on the index rose 0.2 percent to 5,382.
About 8.2 billion shares changed hands, the busiest trading in at least three years. Shares worth NT$196.6 billion (US$5.7 billion) were traded, the highest since Jan. 24 last year.
AU Optronics Corp (
The Ministry of Finance on Monday forecast exports to the US and China will increase in the second half after the World Health Organization on Saturday declared the global SARS epidemic "contained" after removing Taiwan as last on its list of infected places.
The government is counting on exports rising 7 percent this year to meet its projection of 2.89 percent economic growth.
A survey last month by Goldman Sachs of expected information technology spending this year showed outlays will probably be little changed from a year earlier. In April, the outlook predicted a decline of 3.2 percent, Goldman analyst Laura Conigliaro wrote in a note to clients.
TSMC climbed NT$1, or 1.6 percent, to NT$62.
United Microelectronics Corp (
Quanta Computer, which counts Dell Computer Corp as its biggest client, gained NT$1.50, or 1.7 percent, to NT$89. AU Optronics, which supplies computer flat panels to Dell, rallied NT$1.90, or 6.5 percent, to NT$31.10.
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