Taiwan stocks fell, led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC,
The TWSE Index declined 86.65, or 2 percent, to 4,338.26, after falling as low as 2.5 percent. Eight stocks fell for every one that rose. Trade yesterday totaled NT$36.9 billion ($1.1 billion), down from NT$43.6 billion Wednesday and NT$51.2 billion on Tuesday.
TSMC fell NT$1.50, or 2.3 percent, to NT$64. TSMC's American depositary receipts fell US$0.22, or 1.7 percent, to US$12.53. United Microelectronics Corp (UMC, 聯電), the second-biggest made-to-order chipmaker, fell NT$0.10, or 0.3 percent, to NT$39.90. UMC's ADRs fell US$0.31, or 4.1 percent, to US$7.17.
Computer parts makers declined on concern Hewlett-Packard Co's acquisition of Compaq Computer Corp earlier this week may cause the company to reduce its supply costs, lowering orders for some Taiwanese companies.
Asustek Computer Inc (
Hon Hai Precision Industry Ltd (
Some marine transport stocks gained after Taiwan's cabinet approved a proposal that will allow Taiwan vessels to travel directly from Penghu in the Taiwan Strait and China.
Yang Ming Marine Transport (陽明海運) rose NT$0.35, or 4.1 percent, to NT$8.80.
TYPHOON: The storm’s path indicates a high possibility of Krathon making landfall in Pingtung County, depending on when the storm turns north, the CWA said Typhoon Krathon is strengthening and is more likely to make landfall in Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said in a forecast released yesterday afternoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the CWA’s updated sea warning for Krathon showed that the storm was about 430km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point. It was moving in west-northwest at 9kph, with maximum sustained winds of 119kph and gusts of up to 155kph, CWA data showed. Krathon is expected to move further west before turning north tomorrow, CWA forecaster Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華) said. The CWA’s latest forecast and other countries’ projections of the storm’s path indicate a higher
SLOW-MOVING STORM: The typhoon has started moving north, but at a very slow pace, adding uncertainty to the extent of its impact on the nation Work and classes have been canceled across the nation today because of Typhoon Krathon, with residents in the south advised to brace for winds that could reach force 17 on the Beaufort scale as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecast that the storm would make landfall there. Force 17 wind with speeds of 56.1 to 61.2 meters per second, the highest number on the Beaufort scale, rarely occur and could cause serious damage. Krathon could be the second typhoon to land in southwestern Taiwan, following typhoon Elsie in 1996, CWA records showed. As of 8pm yesterday, the typhoon’s center was 180km
TYPHOON DAY: Taitung, Pingtung, Tainan, Chiayi, Hualien and Kaohsiung canceled work and classes today. The storm is to start moving north this afternoon The outer rim of Typhoon Krathon made landfall in Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) at about noon yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, adding that the eye of the storm was expected to hit land tomorrow. The CWA at 2:30pm yesterday issued a land alert for Krathon after issuing a sea alert on Sunday. It also expanded the scope of the sea alert to include waters north of Taiwan Strait, in addition to its south, from the Bashi Channel to the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島). As of 6pm yesterday, the typhoon’s center was 160km south of
SECURITY: The New Zealand and Australian navies also sailed military vessels through the Strait yesterday to assert the right of freedom of navigation The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force on Wednesday made its first-ever transit through the Taiwan Strait in response to the intrusion by a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft into Japan’s sovereign airspace last month, Yomiuri Shimbun reported yesterday. The Japanese news platform reported that the destroyer JS Sazanamisailed down through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, citing sources in the Japanese government with knowledge of the matter. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the reports at a regular briefing because they concern military operations. Military vessels from New Zealand and Australia also sailed through the Strait on the same day, Wellington’s defense ministry