Taiwan's key TAIEX fell, paced by Via Technologies Inc (威盛電子), on a newspaper report the chipset designer may follow Intel Corp and cut prices, limiting profit growth in the second quarter.
Chinatrust Commercial Bank (中國信託銀行) rose after Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co raised its recommendation on the shares as consumer sentiment rebounds, boosting loan growth and fee income.
The TAIEX fell 16.26, or 0.3 percent, to 6190.83, as more than three stocks gained for every one that declined. The total value of trade fell 23 percent to NT$33.8 billion (US$968 million).
Makers of personal-computer chipsets dropped after Intel Corp cut prices, forcing its Taiwanese rivals to follow suit, which may limit second-quarter profit growth, the Economic Daily News reported, without citing its sources.
Via, Taiwan's largest designer of personal-computer chipsets, fell NT$5.50, or 4.4 percent, to NT$120. Silicon Integrated Systems Corp (矽統科技) dropped NT$2.50, or 4.8 percent, to NT$50.
Chinatrust Bank, the nation's largest credit card issuer, rose 80 cents, or 2.7 percent, to NT$30.80. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co raised its recommendation on the stock to "overweight" from "equal weight" on expectations of higher loan growth and fee income amid an economic rebound.
Makers of computer motherboards fell on concern April sales may lag last month's, the DigiTimes newspaper reported on its Web site, citing unidentified Goldman Sachs Group Inc analysts.
Asustek Computer Inc (華碩電腦), Taiwan's largest motherboard maker, fell NT$5, or 3.5 percent, to NT$139.50.
Elitegroup Computer Systems Co (精英電腦) shed NT$9, or 4.7 percent, to NT$184.
Makers of flat-panel display monitors rose after the Commercial Times said a rebound in first-quarter sales will be better than expected.
* Makers of personal-computer chipsets dropped after Intel Corp cut prices, forcing its Taiwanese rivals to follow suit, which may limit second-quarter profit growth.
* Via, Taiwan's largest designer of personal-computer chipsets, fell NT$5.50, or 4.4 percent, to NT$120.
Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd (中華映管) rose 70 cents, or 1.9 percent, to NT$38. AU Optronics Corp (友達光電), the third-largest maker of flat-panel displays, added 50 cents, or 1 percent, to NT$51.
Companies of the Lite-On Group (光寶集團), which make everything from personal-computer parts to mobile phones, were mixed. The group plans to invest as much as $1 billion to expand in China in the next six years, moving plants closer to customers.
Lite-On Information Technology Corp (建興電子), Taiwan's biggest maker of optical disk drives, reported March sales more than doubled to NT$4.28 billion from NT$2.08 billion from a year ago. Lite-On Technology Corp (源興科技), which makes liquid crystal display monitors, said March sales climbed 77 percent to NT$3.61 billion.
Lite-On IT shares fell NT$12, or 4.1 percent, to NT$284. Lite-On Technology shares fell NT$2.50, or 3.5 percent, to NT$70. GVC Corp (致福) rose 30 cents, or 1.1 percent, to NT$26.70. Silitek Corp (旭麗) dropped NT$4, or 5.9 percent, to NT$64.
A.G.V. Products Corp (愛之味) rose 40 cents, or 6.7 percent, to NT$6.35. The Taiwan maker of canned food plans to team up with Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holdings Corp's "Mr Kon" unit in Shanghai to try to reduce losses, the Economic Daily News reported Saturday, citing the Taiwan company.
Chang Hwa Commercial Bank (彰化銀行), Taiwan's third-biggest traded lender by assets, rose NT$1.10, or 6.5 percent, to NT$18 after setting up its mainland representative office. It's one of the first two lenders in Taiwan to win approval to open offices in China.
Nan Ya Plastics Corp (
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