TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s stock market rebounded Thursday, lifted by electronics and petrochemical shares.

The Taiwan Capitalization Weighted Stock Index (TAIEX) gained 336.69 points to close at 23,962.13. Turnover totaled NT$409 billion (US$13.4 billion), according to CNA and CTEE.

TSMC advanced 1.32% to NT$1,150. Foxconn added 2.74% to NT$206, while MediaTek climbed 0.74% to NT$1,365.

Petrochemical stocks strengthened after reports showed a six-million-barrel drop in US crude inventories. Additionally, 10 South Korean companies announced plans to cut one-quarter of their naphtha cracking capacity.

Formosa Chemicals & Fibre hit the daily limit at NT$30.9. Formosa Petrochemical gained more than 8%, Formosa Plastics rose over 6%, and Nan Ya Plastics advanced 3.8%.

HTC hit the daily limit at NT$60, its highest level since Jan. 22, after unveiling its new artificial intelligence-powered Vive Eagle smart glasses. The rally also boosted shares in parent company Via Technologies.

Robotics-related stocks, which had retreated a day earlier, bounced back as the Automation Taipei 2025 trade show drew domestic and international players in industrial robotics and automation. Sunplus Technology, Teco Electric & Machinery, Altek, and Pan-International Industrial all hit the daily limit intraday, while Taiwan Chelic and Bin Chuan Enterprise gained more than 5%.

Sunplus led the broader market in trading volume, with more than 90,000 lots, or 90 million shares, changing hands as the stock climbed to NT$25.15. The rise followed news that its next-generation system-on-chip, the “C5,” is slated for tape-out in June 2026 and mass production by year-end.

SoCs integrate all key components of a system onto a single silicon chip. This design streamlines circuit layouts, improving power efficiency and speed without sacrificing functionality, according to Ansys.

Taishin China Equity Fund Manager Wei Yung-hsiang (魏永祥) noted that the TAIEX has gained more than 7,200 points since April 9, reaching a record high of 24,551 on Tuesday. He cautioned that the rally’s scale means any negative developments could trigger profit-taking and heighten volatility.

Looking ahead, Wei said investors are watching US inflation data due after August, which could affect the Federal Reserve’s rate-cut timeline. He added that Washington’s tariff policies on semiconductors and investment decisions involving Intel and other chipmakers will be critical to global sentiment.

With earnings season wrapping up, Wei says corporate guidance and profit outlooks from major firms will be key signals for the second half of the year.

This information is not intended as personalized financial advice. Investors should conduct their own research before making investment decisions.