TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's stock market opened sharply lower on Tuesday (Feb. 25), plunging 188.89 points to 23,376.42, as major tech stocks faced pressure. The index extended its losses, dropping over 200 points to a low of 23,298.47, with TSMC (台積電) declining NT$20 to NT$1,055. This downturn follows a weak performance in U.S. markets a day earlier.
Concerns over tariffs and a slump in U.S. tech stocks have weighed heavily on Taiwan's tech sector. MediaTek (聯發科) fell NT$20 to NT$1,520, Hon Hai (鴻海) dropped NT$2.5 to NT$181.5, and Wiwynn (緯穎) slipped NT$45 to NT$1,995, breaking below NT$2,000. In contrast, Yang Ming Marine Transport (陽明) saw a 0.69% increase to NT$72.9, while Wan Hai Lines (萬海) experienced volatility, settling at NT$85.6. Evergreen Marine (長榮) decreased 0.45% to NT$220.5.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that the tariff exemptions on imports from Canada and Mexico will expire next week, potentially affecting market dynamics. Investors are also eyeing Nvidia's earnings report this week, particularly regarding the demand for high-priced AI chips. The emergence of China's DeepSeek low-cost AI model has sparked speculation and doubt in the market.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 33.19 points to 43,461.21 on Monday, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 237.08 points to 19,286.93. The S&P 500 dropped 29.88 points to 5,983.25, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index decreased 133.05 points to 5,003.54.
