The TAIEX rose 178.37 points, or 1.9 percent, to close at 9,809.88 points yesterday -- - its highest since April 2000 -- boosted by a Wall Street rally at the end of last week and strong third-quarter earnings and fourth-quarter guidance from electronics companies.
Yesterday's close was also the best after the Democratic Progressive Party came to power, fueling investors' expectation that the local bourse would soon challenge the 10,000 point level.
Risers led decliners 1,319 to 726, with 245 stocks unchanged.
A total of 53 stocks closed limit-up and seven limit-down.
Cecelia Lu of Taiwan International Securities (
"Investor demand has returned to electronics shares," Lu said. "And the significant appreciation of the [New] Taiwan dollar of late also increased demand for asset-rich companies."
Several major stocks' gains led yesterday's seven-year record.
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (
Hon Hai paced exporters' gains amid speculation that the worst of the US subprime mortgage crisis was over.
In the US, third-quarter sales at Microsoft Corp beat projections by more than US$1 billion, the world's largest software company said on Thursday. Countrywide Financial Corp, the No. 1 US mortgage lender, said on Friday that last quarter was its "earnings trough'' and that it would return to profit in the current period.
"Corporate earnings are sustainable and will keep the US economy from slowing," said Yin Nai-yun (
Taiwan Semiconductor Manu-facturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world's largest contract chipmaker, advanced NT$2.30, or 3.7 percent, to NT$63.90. TSMC makes about three quarters of its sales to the US.
Acer, the world's fourth-largest computer vendor, jumped NT$4.90, or 6.7 percent, to NT$78.10. Acer chairman Wang Jeng-tang (
United Microelectronics Corp (
In addition, Formosa Plastics Corp (台塑), the world's second-largest maker of polyvinyl chloride, climbed NT$1.50, or 1.5 percent, to NT$99.40. Formosa Plastics' profit in the third quarter surged 65 percent to NT$20.1 billion (US$619 million) from a year earlier. The figure was derived by deducting first-half profit from nine-month earnings the company announced on Friday.
Fubon Financial Holding Co (富邦金控), the second-largest local financial company by market value, gained US$0.85, or 2.8 percent, to NT$31.50. Fubon plans to set up an insurance unit in China through a joint venture, the Chinese-language Commercial Times reported on Saturday, citing property insurer Fubon Insurance Co (富邦產險) president Chen Tsan-huang (陳燦煌).
Formosa Petrochemical Corp (台塑石化), the only publicly traded oil refiner, rose NT$2.50, or 2.5 percent, to NT$104.50. Formosa Petrochemical said profit in the first nine months rose 66 percent from a year earlier to NT$51.4 billion.
Nan Ya Plastics Corp. (南亞塑膠), the world's largest processor of plastics for pipes and imitation leather, added NT$1.10, or 1.1 percent, to NT$98.10. Nan Ya posted a 34 percent gain in third-quarter profit to NT$20.7 billion from a year earlier. The figure was derived by deducting first-half profit from nine-month earnings the firm announced.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
CHINA REACTS: The patrol and reconnaissance plane ‘transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,’ the 7th Fleet said, while Taipei said it saw nothing unusual The US 7th Fleet yesterday said that a US Navy P-8A Poseidon flew through the Taiwan Strait, a day after US and Chinese defense heads held their first talks since November 2022 in an effort to reduce regional tensions. The patrol and reconnaissance plane “transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,” the 7th Fleet said in a news release. “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.” In a separate statement, the Ministry of National Defense said that it monitored nearby waters and airspace as the aircraft
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source