Share prices ended higher yesterday on strength in transportation and cement stocks.
The TAIEX finished 26.90 points, or 0.43 percent, higher at 6,220.52. Advancers outnumbered decliners 545 to 323, while 136 issues ended the day unchanged.
Dealers said transportation shares, which rose 2.7 percent overall, drew strength from recent gains in the Baltic Exchange Dry Index, as well as lessening concern over a proposed Chinese "anti-secession" bill.
The Baltic Dry Index, which is made up of 24 key dry bulk routes, rose 0.7 percent on Friday. Analysts said elevated global raw material prices are boosting the outlook for the shipping industry worldwide.
Evergreen Marine Corp (長榮海運), the country's largest container shipper, ended 5.2 percent higher at NT$33.65 and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp (陽明海運) rose 3.8 percent to NT$33.20.
Also benefiting from the optimism in cross-strait relations were the shares of Taiwanese companies with large business interests in China. Taiwan Cement Corp (台灣水泥) finished 1.7 percent higher at NT$21 and Asia Cement Corp (亞洲水泥) rose 2.3 percent to NT$22.55.
In construction stocks, Hung Sheng Construction Ltd (宏盛建設) ended 6.7 percent higher at NT$16.70 and Hung Poo Real Estate Development Co (宏普建設) rose 4.2 percent to NT$26.
Technology shares rose 0.3 percent overall.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manu-facturing Co (
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