Stocks fell yesterday, led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) after the world's largest maker of computer chips on a subcontracting basis reported that sales declined last month from the previous month.
The TAIEX fell 56.14, or 1 percent, to 5,803.42. About three stocks dropped for every one that rose. The Taiwan Futures Index dropped 0.7 percent to 5,830.
"TSMC's lackluster sales report raised the question on the company's growth outlook," said Celine Chiang (江宜津), a fund manager at Polaris International Securities Investment Trust Co (寶來投信).
The company's sales last month dropped to NT$18.5 billion (US$544 million) from NT$20.3 billion in the previous month.
The TAIEX fell as much as 1.5 percent after a 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan at 12:38pm. The quake was the strongest in 21 months. No casualties were reported from the temblor.
Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp (奇美電子), Taiwan's second-largest maker of flat-panel displays, said no damage was reported immediately, though the company is still checking with its main factory in the southern county of Tainan, spokesman Eddie Chen (陳炎松) said.
TSMC lost NT$2.50, or 3.9 percent, to NT$62.00. Chi Mei unchanged at NT$38.10.
United Microelectronics Corp (
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