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■ Chip-making sales likely to rise
Sales of materials and equipment used in the production of semiconductors are likely to surpass previous estimates this year because of increased shipments of chips, an industry association said.
"Across the board, we're seeing increases in wafer shipments," Dan Tracy, senior director of industry research and statistics at trade group SEMI, said yesterday in Taipei.
Sales of materials used in chip manufacturing are likely to rise at least 10 percent this year, compared with a previous estimate of 7 percent, Tracy said. Semiconductor-making equipment sales are projected to increase 21 percent, compared with an earlier prediction of 18 percent, he said.

■ FTSE maintains Taiwan rating
The UK index compiler FTSE kept its classification for South Korea and Taiwan at the advanced emerging level yesterday, dashing hopes for an upgrade that could boost fund flows and send both markets higher.
"The committee noted continued improvements in these markets over the past year, but identified that further work remains to be done to meet fully the entry criteria for a status change," FTSE said in a statement.

■ Chinatrust's lotto rules eased
Following a marathon negotiation that ended late on Monday night, Chinatrust Commercial Bank (中國信託商銀) and representatives of its 5,000 lottery ticket sellers reached a consensus on a controversial contract, ending a month-long dispute.
"We're satisfied with the outcome," said Weng Wei-kuo (翁偉國), secretary-general of the public lottery agents association.
Chinatrust Commercial agreed to relax some of its more rigid regulations, including allowing more flexible operating hours, reducing compulsory purchases of shop fittings from the bank, and permitting agents to operate other retail businesses from the same shop.
The bank won exclusive rights to issue lottery tickets for a seven-year period commencing next January. The government's contract with lotto issuer Taipei Fubon Bank (台北富邦銀行) will end at the end of this year.

■ Taipower raises bond sale size
Taiwan Power Co (Taipower, 台電) raised the size of its third bond sale this year by 20 percent to NT$12 billion (US$365 million) after receiving bids for 2.77 times the amount of debt offered.
The company will sell NT$3.6 billion of both five-year and seven-year bonds, and NT$4.8 billion of 10-year securities, the utility said in a statement yesterday.
The five-year bonds will pay an annual interest of 2.08 percent, the seven-year bonds 2.20 percent and the 10-year bonds 2.35 percent.

■ HSBC corporate loans to grow
HSBC Ltd said yesterday it expected its strong growth momentum to continue in its corporate and institutional banking business in the second half of this year, after posting a big leap of 50 percent year-on-year in global revenue in the first half.
The growth momentum is projected to come from fee income, treasury notes and capital markets, the bank said.
In addition, HSBC said it now offers innovative financial services and products such as entrusted loans and account receivable securitization to maximize profits.
Eyeing the capital demands of China-based Taiwanese companies, HSBC said it aims to introduce funds from cash-rich state enterprises, large companies and foreign companies in China.

■ NT dollar edges up
The New Taiwan dollar maintained strength against its US counterpart yesterday, increasing NT$0.006 to close at NT$32.914.
Turnover was US$765 million.

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