Stocks declined, led by Asustek Computer Inc (華碩電腦) and Quanta Computer Inc (廣達電腦), after the NASDAQ Composite Index sank to its lowest since Jan. 2, prompting some investors in Asia to sell computer-related shares.
"Technology stocks are no longer favored by investors because of uncertainty about their future profit growth," said Celine Chiang (
"Performance of industry leaders in the US provided a good hint for investors about their suppliers in Asia," she said.
The TAIEX fell 76.66, or 1.2 percent, to 6,589.23. Taiex Futures for February delivery shed 0.9 percent to 6,643. About five stocks declined for every two that gained.
About 6.7 billion shares changed hands, 36 percent above the daily average in the past three months. Shares worth NT$140 billion (US$4.2 billion) traded, 33 percent above the three-month daily average.
Quanta Computer, the nation's largest notebook computer maker, fell 2.9 percent to NT$82.50. Asustek, the country's largest maker of boards that connect the chips in personal computers, fell 3.4 percent to NT$85.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) fell 1.6 percent to HK$61.50.
China Airlines was unchanged at NT$19, after earlier rising as much as 1.1 percent. Profit at the carrier this year may double, as demand for leisure and business travel recovers from last year's SARS outbreak, said chief executive Philip Wei (魏幸雄). Net income will surge to US$100 million this year, from US$51.06 million last year, he said.
Stephen Garrett, a 27-year-old graduate student, always thought he would study in China, but first the country’s restrictive COVID-19 policies made it nearly impossible and now he has other concerns. The cost is one deterrent, but Garrett is more worried about restrictions on academic freedom and the personal risk of being stranded in China. He is not alone. Only about 700 American students are studying at Chinese universities, down from a peak of nearly 25,000 a decade ago, while there are nearly 300,000 Chinese students at US schools. Some young Americans are discouraged from investing their time in China by what they see
MAJOR DROP: CEO Tim Cook, who is visiting Hanoi, pledged the firm was committed to Vietnam after its smartphone shipments declined 9.6% annually in the first quarter Apple Inc yesterday said it would increase spending on suppliers in Vietnam, a key production hub, as CEO Tim Cook arrived in the country for a two-day visit. The iPhone maker announced the news in a statement on its Web site, but gave no details of how much it would spend or where the money would go. Cook is expected to meet programmers, content creators and students during his visit, online newspaper VnExpress reported. The visit comes as US President Joe Biden’s administration seeks to ramp up Vietnam’s role in the global tech supply chain to reduce the US’ dependence on China. Images on
New apartments in Taiwan’s major cities are getting smaller, while old apartments are increasingly occupied by older people, many of whom live alone, government data showed. The phenomenon has to do with sharpening unaffordable property prices and an aging population, property brokers said. Apartments with one bedroom that are two years old or older have gained a noticeable presence in the nation’s six special municipalities as well as Hsinchu county and city in the past five years, Evertrust Rehouse Co (永慶房產集團) found, citing data from the government’s real-price transaction platform. In Taipei, apartments with one bedroom accounted for 19 percent of deals last
US CONSCULTANT: The US Department of Commerce’s Ursula Burns is a rarely seen US government consultant to be put forward to sit on the board, nominated as an independent director Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, yesterday nominated 10 candidates for its new board of directors, including Ursula Burns from the US Department of Commerce. It is rare that TSMC has nominated a US government consultant to sit on its board. Burns was nominated as one of seven independent directors. She is vice chair of the department’s Advisory Council on Supply Chain Competitiveness. Burns is to stand for election at TSMC’s annual shareholders’ meeting on June 4 along with the rest of the candidates. TSMC chairman Mark Liu (劉德音) was not on the list after in December last