FORECAST: The bank said provisioning expenses would remain at about the same level as the first half while bad-loan write-offs would fall, but analysts were more pessimistic
By Amber Chung
Taishin Financial Holding Co (台新金控), the nation's second-largest financial group by assets, will remain in the black in the second half of this year, despite likely weaker profitability sequentially because of the fallout from consumer bad debts, the company said yesterday.

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HIGHER COSTS: The company said increased costs for raw materials were behind a decision to increase prices for some of its combination meals
By Jackie Lin
McDonald's Restaurants (Taiwan) Co, the nation's No.1 fast-food chain operator, plans to raise the retail prices for several set meals and fries starting next month, citing record increases in raw material costs, according to a press release yesterday.

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By Lisa Wang
High Tech Computer Corp (HTC, 宏達電), the world's biggest maker of mobile phones operating on Microsoft Corp's system, said yesterday it would abandon an overseas share offering of a maximum 16 million shares on unfavorable market conditions.

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NATIONAL TREND: An industry association said that the bicycles made by local firms averaged US$199.60 per unit last year, compared with just US$109 in 2000
By Jason Tan
Merida Industry Co (美利達), the nation's No. 2 bicycle maker, is aiming to increase its products' average selling price (ASP) to above US$400 this year, company executives said yesterday. Last year, the ASP was US$383.

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Share prices closed 0.51 percent lower yesterday, after bargain-hunting cut losses triggered earlier by concerns over domestic political uncertainty and the US interest rate outlook, dealers said.

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GOOD MARKET TO BE IN: Prices of raw PVC climbed 12 percent in East Asia during the second quarter of the year, according to Platts, an oil industry consulting firm
Formosa Plastics Corp (台塑), the world's second-largest maker of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, may post its biggest profit in three quarters as increased demand from China boosted product prices.

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The nation's export orders unexpectedly grew at a slower pace last month for a second straight month, as higher energy prices and rising interest rates curbed overseas demand for computers and semiconductors.

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An official expressed the hope on Tuesday that Taiwan and the US could start negotiations on the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) next spring.

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■ Fubon names new blood
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