Share prices closed 0.27 percent higher yesterday as select technology stocks, notably flat panel display makers, attracted support, dealers said.
At the same time, the upside was capped by continuing caution in the run-up to Dec. 3 local government elections, they said.
The TAIEX added 16.31 points at 6,128.20, on turnover of NT$78.79 billion (US$2.34 billion).
Risers led decliners 518 to 437, with 239 stocks unchanged.
Foreign investors maintained their buy stance, probably seeing Taiwan as a laggard compared with South Korea and Japan, said Oliver Fang, a Yuanta Core Pacific Securities (
However, uncertainty over the coming elections prevented a strong market rally, he said.
"Uncertainty, especially among local investors who care more about the upcoming elections, prevented the market from staging ... an upswing right away," Fang said.
"Uncertainty is uncertainty, no matter which [party] is going to come out as the winner," he said.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manu-facturing Co (台積電) fell NT$0.60 to NT$59.10, while rival United Microelectronics Corp (聯電) rose NT$0.10 to NT$19.40, with the two chip majors continuing their mixed performance of late.
In the flat panel display sector, AU Optronics Corp (
China Steel Corp (中鋼) was up NT$0.10 at NT$26.10 on bargain-hunting after it announced -- largely as expected -- price cuts for the first quarter to March 2006.
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