Shares ended slightly lower yesterday, led by makers of liquid-crystal-display panels and financial companies, analysts said.
The TAIEX finished 16.02 points, or 0.3 percent, lower at 5,954.69.
Dealings were valued at NT$60.23 billion (US$1.92 billion).
Decliners well outnumbered advancers 492 to 361, while 170 issues ended the day unchanged.
"Weakness in LCD and financial issues ate into gains by chipmakers and tourism-related shares," said Harvey Chang, an analyst at United Securities Investment Trust (
AU Optronics Corp (友達光電), the world's third-largest flat-panel maker, fell 1.7 percent to NT$51.4.
The market is concerned that LCD makers won't be able to raise the prices of flat panels used in personal computers in the current quarter, traditionally a weak season for the PC industry, analysts said.
Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp (
The financial sector was down 1.2 percent as a whole, with Chang Hwa Commercial Bank (彰化銀行) shedding 2.2 percent to NT$17.5 and First Financial Holding Co (第一金控) dropping 1.6 percent to NT$25.45.
Share prices are expected to remain range-bound next week, despite the government's latest efforts to boost the economy amid a weaker projection for full-year economic growth, dealers said yesterday.
China's expected announcement allowing Chinese to visit Taiwan for sightseeing will strengthen tourism-related stocks such as hotel and transport for a short period, they added.
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