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.
After several years flying high as Asia’s best Nvidia Corp proxy, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) is increasingly vying with other artificial intelligence (AI) stocks for investor attention. Stock traders are chasing a wider array of beneficiaries as mainstream usage of AI creates demand for hardware beyond the most-advanced chips TSMC makes for Nvidia. Subthemes from the deepening memory crunch to advances in robotics are also luring bids. At the same time, investment caps on single stocks are pushing funds to diversify, while retail investors long familiar with TSMC through its US depositary receipts are being offered a broader set of
UNDER MICROSCOPE: Taiwan detained three people who allegedly conspired to buy servers in Taiwan and export them using fraudulent documentation, prosecutors said Nvidia Corp chief executive officer Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) on Saturday urged Super Micro Computer Inc to tighten up on compliance after Taiwan detained three people this week for allegedly making fraudulent declarations about artificial intelligence (AI) servers made by its US partner. The development marked the nation’s first crackdown on semiconductor smuggling, which grew after the US slapped restrictions on exports of high-end chips such as Nvidia AI accelerators to China. Nvidia is “rigorous” in explaining regulations to all of its partners, Huang told reporters after arriving in Taipei. “Ultimately Super Micro has to run their own company,” he said in response to
TECH RELIANCE: Growth is increasingly reflecting an unequal K-shaped distribution, where technology sectors outperform and other industries struggle, an expert said Standard Chartered Bank has significantly raised its forecast for Taiwan’s economic growth to 9.5 percent this year, up from 7.6 percent previously, citing surging artificial intelligence (AI) demand driving exports, semiconductor production and investment. The upgrade reflects a sustained AI supercycle that continues to fuel demand for advanced chips and technology infrastructure, which form the backbone of Taiwan’s exports, the bank said in a report this week. “We raise our 2026 growth forecast to reflect a much stronger-than-expected first-quarter GDP figure,” Standard Chartered senior economist for greater China and Asia Tommy Wu (胡東安) said in the report. Driven largely by a 35.3 percent
Two of Taiwan’s international carriers, Starlux Airlines Co (星宇航空) and EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空), have retained the five-star airline rating awarded by international airline review organization Skytrax. Starlux was awarded the distinction for a second consecutive year, while EVA Air received it for the 11th straight year, Skytrax said in statements released yesterday and on Thursday last week, respectively. The five-star rating is considered one of the airline industry's highest honors and is awarded following professional audits of airline product and frontline service standards, Skytrax said. The ratings are based on in-depth assessments using unified global quality standards rather than customer review scores
RSS