TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's stock market opened on a downbeat note on Friday (Dec. 13), dropping 44 points to start at 23,002. The index wavered around the 23,000 mark before slipping nearly 100 points, falling below this psychological threshold. TSMC (台積電) initially rose by NT$5, reaching NT$1,065, but later stabilized around NT$1,060.
Most stocks in the electronics sector experienced declines. UMC (聯電) fell by 1.53% to NT$41.85, while MediaTek (聯發科) and Hon Hai (鴻海) remained steady at NT$1,380 and NT$188.5, respectively. Quanta (廣達) dropped NT$1 to NT$285.
Shipping stocks, despite being dragged by the broader market, showed slight gains. Wan Hai (萬海) held steady at NT$81.7, Evergreen (長榮) increased by NT$0.5 to NT$227.5, and Yang Ming (陽明) rose NT$0.3 to NT$78.9. Analysts anticipate a 7% rise in container market demand and volume next year, keeping shipping stocks bullish through the fourth quarter.
In the U.S., the November Producer Price Index (PPI) increased by 3%, marking the highest level since February 2023 and surpassing the 2.6% market forecast. This has fueled concerns about persistent inflation risks. U.S. Treasury yields rose yesterday, with the 10-year yield climbing 5.2 basis points.
