Shares rose yesterday on a bullish demand outlook for technology goods in the first quarter.
The TAIEX climbed 28.49 points, or 0.43 percent, to 6,735.89, approaching the index's 20-month high of 6,742.39 on Monday. Turnover was NT$133.58 billion (US$4.16 billion).
Makers of thin-film-transistor (TFT) liquid-crystal-display (LCD) panels led the rise as investors regained confidence in demand for their products.
"Sentiment toward the TFT-LCD industry is still positive," said Bill Huang, a trader at KGI Securities Co (
AU Optronics Corp (
The company's closest rival, Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp (
The gains followed a statement by glassmaker Corning Inc that it expects global demand for glass used to produce LCDs to triple by 2007 from the 45 million square meters recorded in 2004.
Construction shares as a whole advanced 3.4 percent as house sales remain strong, led by Hung Sheng Construction Ltd (宏盛建設), which surged by the daily limit of 7 percent to NT$24.5.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manu-facturing Co (台積電), the world's largest made-to-order chipmaker, closed down 1.35 percent at NT$65.80, while rival United Microelectronics Corp (聯電) was steady at NT$18.55 despite reports it may be fined up to NT$25 million for allegedly investing illegally in China.
Contract chipmaker United Microelectronics Corp (UMC, 聯電) yesterday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Polar Semiconductor LLC to collaborate on the production of 8-inch wafers in the US. The collaboration aims to strengthen 8-inch wafer manufacturing in the US amid Washington’s efforts to increase onshore manufacturing of semiconductors, contribute to supply chain resilience against shifting geopolitical dynamics, and ensure a secure domestic supply of power semiconductors critical to automotive, electric grids, robotic manufacturing and data centers, the companies said in a joint statement. Under the MOU, Polar and UMC will identify devices for Polar to manufacture at
TECH TITANS: Amazon’s latest chip joins Google in competing for the 90 percent market share held by Nvidia, which claims it is ‘a generation ahead of the industry’ Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Tuesday launched its in-house-built Trainium3 artificial intelligence (AI) chip, marking a significant push to compete with Nvidia Corp in the lucrative market for AI computing power. The move intensifies competition in the AI chip market, where Nvidia dominates with an estimated 80 to 90 percent market share for products used in training large language models that power the likes of ChatGPT. Google last week caused tremors in the industry when it was reported that Facebook-parent Meta Platforms Inc would employ Google AI chips in data centers, signaling new competition for Nvidia. This followed the release last month of
Two companies wholly owned by the daughter of the founder of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) on Monday reported to the Taiwan Stock Exchange that they would dispose of all of the Hon Hai shares they hold. In filings with the exchange, Hong Wei Investment Co (鋐維) said it would sell the 2.771 million Hon Hai shares it holds and Frontier Investment Corp (承鋒投資) said it would sell its 2.409 million Hon Hai shares from tomorrow until Jan. 3 next year. The two companies are wholly owned and chaired by Shirley Gou (郭曉玲), the eldest daughter of Hon Hai founder Terry
TARIFF TALKS: The US secretary of commerce is eyeing more than US$300 billion in investments and said Taiwan would train US workers, but Taipei has denied the latter US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said the US is expecting a large investment pledge from Taiwan in trade talks, while President William Lai (賴清德) listed areas that need improvement in order for projects to be completed. “We’re in the midst of discussions,” Lutnick said on Wednesday. “But the fact is, this administration’s goal is to bring semiconductor manufacturing to America.” Lai on Wednesday said Taiwan is supportive of US President Donald Trump’s goal of reindustrializing the US, including efforts to ramp up semiconductor production. Such a goal would require the US to reduce its reliance on Taiwan as a key source
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