TRADE
Computex visitors increase
This year’s Computex Taipei trade show attracted 42,495 visitors from 171 nations, a slight increase on 42,284 visitors from 168 nations last year, according to data on the Computex Web site. The five-day computer and technology expo, held from May 28 to Saturday, invited 76 “heavyweight” buyers to participate in 470 one-on-one talks with exhibitors, the Web site said, adding that the top 10 buyers this year were from China, the US, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Germany, Malaysia and India.
ELECTRONICS
Lite-On approves offer
Electronic components supplier Lite-On Technology Corp (光寶科技) yesterday said its board of directors approved acquiring all the outstanding shares of Lite-On Japan Ltd through a tender offer on the Japanese high tech-oriented stock exchange JASDAQ. The offer period begins today and is to close on July 16, the company said, adding that it aims to make Lite-On Japan a wholly-owned unit. The company currently owns a 49.49 percent stake in the Japanese unit, while its two affiliates Silitech Technology Corp (閎暉實業) and Lite-On Semiconductor Corp (敦南科技) both hold 7.87 percent stakes respectively.
ELECTRONICS
Ichia revenue falls
Handset keypad maker Ichia Technologies Inc (毅嘉科技) yesterday posted revenue of NT$515 million (US$16.35 million) for last month, down 20 percent from a year earlier and 1 percent from April, as orders from clients continued to lose steam. Last month’s revenue included about NT$403 million in sales of flexible printed circuit integrated components and about NT$119 million from mechanical integrated components, Ichia said in a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
CHIPMAKERS
Global Unichip shares fall
Global Unichip Corp (創意電子) shares yesterday declined 1.79 percent to close at NT$219.5 in Taipei trading after going ex-dividend with a reference opening price of NT$223.5. The IC designer paid a NT$5 cash dividend per share from last year’s earnings. Dealers said the stock’s reference opening price attracted buying soon after the local bourse opened. However, the shares started to fall in the middle of trading session following a brief upside, as the market faced sell-off pressure amid US-China trade tensions, they said.
AUTOMAKERS
New vehicle sales rise
Sales of new vehicles last month rose 9.1 percent month-on-month and 6 percent year-on-year to 37,829 units, according to data compiled by the Directorate-General of Highways. Hotai Motor Co (和泰汽車) continued to lead the market, selling 12,008 Toyota and Lexus vehicles last month, a market share of 31.7 percent, the data showed. In the first five months, total vehicle sales decreased 8.5 percent from a year earlier to 168,683 units, the data showed.
ENERGY
Taipower plans Cigu facility
State-owned Taiwan Power Co (Taipower, 台電) plans to build a large solar energy power facility on the salt flats of Tainan’s Cigu District (七股). The firm is to invest about NT$7.4 billion to build a solar power facility with a capacity of 150,000 kilowatts, making it the largest solar energy generation facility in the nation. Taipower has installed 430 electricity feed lines in Tainan and by the end of 2025 the number is expected to increase by 630.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) has approved a capital budget of US$31.28 billion for production expansion to meet long-term development needs during the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. The company’s board meeting yesterday approved the capital appropriation plan for purposes such as the installation of advanced technology capacity and fab construction, the world’s largest contract chipmaker said in a statement. At an earnings conference last month, TSMC forecast that its capital expenditure for this year would be at the higher end of the US$52 billion to US$56 billion range it forecast in January in response to robust demand for 5G, AI and
PORTFOLIO REBALANCING: The adjustments in three global equity indices reflect rising investor appetite for semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related stocks Taiwan’s weighting in major global equity indices compiled by MSCI Inc is to rise modestly following the latest quarterly review, underscoring the market’s expanding role in emerging-market portfolios, as global investors continue to favor the nation’s technology sector. Taiwan’s weighting in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index is to increase by 0.30 percentage points to 23.76 percent, after the changes take effect at the close of the May 29 session. Its weighting in the MSCI All-Country Asia ex-Japan Index is to rise 0.37 percentage points to 27.16 percent, while that in the MSCI All Country World Index is to edge up slightly to
NEW MARKET: The partnership opens up India to the Dutch company, which already has a strong hold in the semiconductor market of South Korea, Taiwan and China ASML Holding NV entered into a partnership agreement with Tata Electronics Pvt Ltd aimed at ramping up India’s goal to develop domestic chip-manufacturing capabilities. The Dutch company’s technology would help power Tata Electronics’ planned 300 millimeter (mm) semiconductor foundry in Gujarat, according to a joint statement from the two companies on Saturday. The signing of a memorandum of understanding coincides with a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Netherlands, which is looking to deepen bilateral relations with New Delhi. ASML, whose top customers include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) and Samsung Electronics Co, makes lithography machines that can print
The Hsinchu County Government’s Labor Affairs Department yesterday said that it has received a plan from cosmetics brand Taiwan Shiseido Co (台灣資生堂) detailing mass layoffs at its plant in Hukou Township (湖口). While the labor authorities did not disclose the number of employees to be laid off, Japanese news media earlier in the day reported that the closure of the company’s factory in Hukou would result in 170 employees losing their jobs. Shiseido followed the law by reporting its layoff plan, the department said, adding that authorities would closely monitor negotiations between the management and affected employees and step in if any
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