Taiwanese share prices closed 0.78 percent lower in thin trading yesterday, tracking Wall Street’s overnight slump, dealers said.
The weighted index fell 35.21 points to 4,467.53 on turnover of NT$43.21 billion (US$1.31 billion).
Decliners outnumbered gainers 1,045 to 453, while 249 stocks closed unchanged, dealers also reported.
A total of 13 shares were down by the daily 7 percent limit against 16 that were limit-up.
The market opened yesterday for a special session to make up for the Jan. 2 holiday.
Financials were down 1.39 percent and electronics down 0.61 percent, while food was up 1.76 percent and transport up 1.26 percent.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
On the foreign exchange market, the New Taiwan dollar weakened 0.2 percent against the US dollar to NT$33.160 at the 4pm close, according to Taipei Forex Inc. Turnover was US$202 million.
The NT dollar had fallen for a third day yesterday to the lowest since Dec. 15.
CENTRAL BANK
The central bank said that the value of the local currency was basically determined by supply and demand in the market.
It will also “step in when seasonal and irregular factors” trigger volatility, the bank said yesterday in a statement.
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