■ LCD price increase forecast
Compal Electronics Inc (仁寶電腦), the world's second-largest maker of laptop computers, forecast price increases of liquid-crystal displays will extend into the next quarter on rising demand for notebook computers. Prices of the most widely used type of notebook panels, which measure 15 inches diagonally, will probably rise about US$10 this quarter from the second and increase by about US$5 in the fourth quarter, Chang Chih-ming (張志銘), a finance official at Compal, said in an interview yesterday in Taipei. Prices of LCD panels for notebooks have a "good chance" of rising in the fourth quarter after climbing as much as US$5 this quarter, said Jason Lin (林群傑), a spokesman for No. 1 laptop maker Quanta Computer Inc (廣達電腦), in a separate interview earlier this week. The projected increase in LCD prices by the world's top two makers of notebook computers for companies such as Dell Inc and Hewlett-Packard Co counter a predicted price decline by researcher DisplaySearch. Average notebook panel prices will decline each month during the fourth quarter, according to a July 22 report by Austin, Texas-based DisplaySearch.
■ Tang Eng applies for listing
State-run Tang Eng Iron Works Corp (唐榮) announced that it has applied to be listed on the local stock market in the end of last month and plans to release a 14 percent government stake to become a private company, according to a company statement released yesterday. The 14 percent stake, or 49 million shares, will be trade on the Taiwan's over-the-counter market, or Gretai Securities Market, after the regulator passed its listing application, the statement said. Tang Eng also cut its capital from NT$7 billion to NT$3.5 billion to comply with the listing regulation, it said. Bolstered by strong demand for steel products worldwide, Tang Eng reported revenue hit NT$13.3 billion and net income of NT$1.1 billion for the first seven months of the year, making the company qualify to trade its shares on the Gretai Securities Market, the company said.
■ Exports to Koreas speeded up
Taiwan's exports of foods and related products to South Korea are now on a fast customs and quarantine track after the Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) struck an agreement with the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs for cooperation.
■ 3G partnership formed
Vibo Vibo Telecom Inc (威寶電信), which plans to launch its high-speed third-generation (3G) mobile services in October, announced to form a joint venture with Tecom Co (東訊), a subsidiary of Teco Group (東元集團), to expand the retailing channels, the company said in a press released issued late Thursday. The venture, set up with a capital of NT$200 million (US$6.25 million), will have Vibo chairman Rock Hsu (許勝雄) as its chairman and allow Tecom, which makes and sells phone equipment, to appoint the president, the release said. David Wang (王柏堂), president and CEO of Vibo, said he expects the deal to strengthen the two parties' cooperation so as to snatch a bigger share in the fledgling 3G market.
■ NT dollar falls
The New Taiwan dollar declined against the US dollar on the Taipei Foreign Exchange yesterday, losing NT$0.017 to close at NT$32.310. A total of US$955 million changed hands during the day's trading.
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