Taiwan stocks advanced for the fourth day in five, led by Winbond Electronics Corp (
The 128-megabit dynamic random-access memory chip (DRAM) rose to US$2.08 on Thursday from US$2 Wednesday, according to DRAM Exchange, a market place for memory chips. The 128-megabit DRAM price has risen 95 percent from its year low on Nov. 6.
"Semiconductor stocks are enjoying an upsurge because of the increase in" memory-chip prices, said Dennis Chung, who helps manage NT$3 billion (US$86 million) in Taiwan stocks at Zurich Securities Investment Trust Co.
The TAIEX rose 65.30, or 1.2 percent, to 5,398.28, up 5.7 percent for the week. Within the index, 292 stocks rose and 178 declined. The index is the world's fourth-best performer in the last three months, up 46 percent in US-dollar terms.
The total value of trade yesterday was NT$123.3 billion (US$3.5 billion), down 23 percent from Thursday.
Memory chipmakers advanced after the price of the 128-megabit DRAM chip rose. Hynix Semiconductor Inc creditors expect Micron Technology Inc to make an offer next month as the two companies proceed with talks for a tie-up, according to a statement from Hynix's lenders. A merger between the two companies may trim supply and boost memory-chip prices further.
Mosel Vitelic Inc (茂矽電子) rose NT$1, or 6.7 percent, to NT$15.90. Nanya Technology Corp (南亞科技) rose NT$2.20, or 6.9 percent, to NT$34.20. Powerchip Semiconductor Corp (力晶半導體) rose NT$1.40, or 7 percent, to NT$21.50. Winbond rose NT$1.50, or 6.7 percent, to NT$23.80.
Made-to-order chipmakers advanced after the widely watched Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, an index of 16 companies that design and manufacture chips, rose 1.9 percent yesterday.
Taiwan Semiconductor Man-ufacturing Co (TSMC,
Shares prices for Taiwan's banks fell. Many companies are unable to meet their loan repayments with the economy in recession. Taiwan's central bank expects the economy to contract 2.3 percent this year.
This means that banks' non-performing loans, that some analysts estimate to be more than a fifth of total loans, will rise further, crimping earnings as lenders are forced to write off more credits.
Chinatrust Commercial Bank (
Chang Hwa Commercial Bank (彰化銀行), the second-biggest listed lender by assets, fell NT$0.45, or 3.1 percent, to NT$14.10. First Commercial Bank (第一銀行), the biggest listed lender by assets, fell NT$0.90, or 4.2 percent, to NT$20.80.
China Development Financial Holding Corp (
MISINFORMATION: The generated content tends to adopt China’s official stance, such as ‘Taiwan is currently governed by the Chinese central government,’ the NSB said Five China-developed artificial intelligence (AI) language models exhibit cybersecurity risks and content biases, an inspection conducted by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The five AI tools are: DeepSeek, Doubao (豆包), Yiyan (文心一言), Tongyi (通義千問) and Yuanbao (騰訊元寶), the bureau said, advising people to remain vigilant to protect personal data privacy and corporate business secrets. The NSB said it, in accordance with the National Intelligence Services Act (國家情報工作法), has reviewed international cybersecurity reports and intelligence, and coordinated with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Bureau to conduct an inspection of China-made AI language
BOOST IN CONFIDENCE: The sale sends a clear message of support for Taiwan and dispels rumors that US President Donald Trump ‘sold out’ the nation, an expert said The US government on Thursday announced a possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet parts, which was estimated to cost about US$330 million, in a move that an expert said “sends a clear message of support for Taiwan” amid fears that Washington might be wavering in its attitude toward Taipei. It was the first announcement of an arms sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. The proposed package includes non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, as well repair and return support for the F-16, C-130 and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft,
CHECKING BOUNDARIES: China wants to disrupt solidarity among democracies and test their red lines, but it is instead pushing nations to become more united, an expert said The US Department of State on Friday expressed deep concern over a Chinese public security agency’s investigation into Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) for “secession.” “China’s actions threaten free speech and erode norms that have underpinned the cross-strait ‘status quo’ for decades,” a US Department of State spokesperson said. The Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau late last month listed Shen as “wanted” and launched an investigation into alleged “secession-related” criminal activities, including his founding of the Kuma Academy, a civil defense organization that prepares people for an invasion by China. The spokesperson said that the US was “deeply concerned” about the bureau investigating Shen
DISPUTE: A Chinese official prompted a formal protest from Tokyo by saying that ‘the dirty head that sticks itself out must be cut off,’ after Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks Four armed China Coast Guard vessels yesterday morning sailed through disputed waters controlled by Japan, amid a diplomatic spat following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan. The four ships sailed around the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) to Taiwan, and which Taiwan and China also claim — on Saturday before entering Japanese waters yesterday and left, the Japan Coast Guard said. The China Coast Guard said in a statement that it carried out a “rights enforcement patrol” through the waters and that it was a lawful operation. As of the end of last month,
RSS