Share prices closed 0.41 percent lower yesterday, with investors preferring to take some profits rather than push bellwether electronics stocks higher after recent solid gains, dealers said.
The downside was supported by gains in steel and plastics, while airline and tourism companies also attracted interest on the government's plan to open up access for visitors from China, they said.
The TAIEX closed down 25.29 points at the day's low of 6,205.76, and off a high of 6,266.25, on turnover of NT$91.04 billion (US$2.9 billion).
"Investors became more cautious as the benchmark index neared its year-to-date high of 6,267 points," said Daniel Tseng (曾建詮), a Fubon Securities Investment Services manager.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) finished unchanged at NT$54.50 after gaining Monday after going ex-dividend. Its 1.47 billion new shares in the form of entitlement certificates will start trading on July 7.
United Microelectronic Corp (UMC, 聯電) was down NT$0.35 at NT$23.15 on a spate of selling after company head Robert Tsao (曹興誠) claimed he had informed President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on UMC's plan for China's He Jian Technology (Suzhou) Co(和艦科技) ahead of a government probe into the relationship between the two firms.
The presidential office later issued a statement saying that Chen did meet Tsao on Jan. 25, but their discussion did not cover any UMC plan regarding He Jian Technology.
China Airlines (華航) was up 0.10 at 18.25 and EVA Airways Corp (長榮) was up 0.45 at 16.85.
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