TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan stocks closed lower Thursday, with funds rotating into small- and mid-cap shares.
The Taiwan Capitalization Weighted Stock Index, or TAIEX, briefly turned positive during the session before ending down 131.92 points at 24,238.10. Turnover totaled NT$474 billion (US$15.7 billion), according to CNA and CTEE.
TSMC fell 2.08% to NT$1,175. MediaTek rose 1.46% to NT$1,390, and Foxconn added 0.5% to NT$199.50.
Taiwan Cement said on Wednesday that a fire at its subsidiary Molie Quantum Energy's Kaohsiung battery plant is expected to cause losses of about NT$11 billion. The company’s shares narrowed earlier declines to finish down less than 4%.
Shinfox Energy will book losses exceeding NT$4.4 billion related to the incident, with shares opening at the daily limit and holding that level through the close. Market observers speculated the two companies may have been exploring a strategic partnership or joint venture.
Fiberglass suppliers extended gains, with Fulltech Fiber Glass climbing 4.92% to NT$72.50 and Taiwan Glass rising 3.69% to NT$30.95. Glass fiber cloth, used to make printed circuit boards (PCBs), is a core material in copper-clad laminate production for most electronic devices.
PCB manufacturer Compeq Manufacturing hit the daily limit at NT$77.70, supported by strong orders from a new US flagship smartphone and steady demand for boards used in low-Earth orbit satellites. Trading volume topped 100,000 lots, or 100 million shares.
Investor sentiment toward fiber-optic companies strengthened after Norway’s sovereign wealth fund disclosed sizable holdings in the sector. Fiber Optic Communications, LuxNet, and Browave, all mentioned in the disclosure, hit the daily limit.
Cathay Securities Investment Consulting Manager Tsai Ming-han (蔡明翰) said the recent rally has pushed the TAIEX to relatively high levels. Thursday’s decline was modest and not triggered by significant negative news, reflecting a market consolidating in line with global trends.
He added that Taiwan stocks could have more room to rise once US tariff-related uncertainties are resolved.
This information is not intended as personalized financial advice. Investors should conduct their own research before making investment decisions.
