TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Investors witnessed a volatile day on the Taiwan stock exchange as the market closed down 378.50 points, settling at 26,923.42, a 1.39% decline. Trading value expanded to NT$583.969 billion, reflecting a turbulent session on Monday (Oct. 13). The fluctuations follow a tightening of Chinese rare earth mineral export controls on Oct. 9, followed by U.S. President Donald Trump declaring that he would impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (台積電, TSMC) experienced a sharp drop at the opening, falling NT$50 to NT$1,390. It ended at NT$1,415, down NT$25, marking a 1.74% decrease. Foxconn (鴻海) saw its shares close at NT$213, a drop of NT$8.5 or 3.84%. Meanwhile, Delta Electronics (台達電) rebounded swiftly after an initial dip, reaching a high of NT$1,045 and closing at NT$1,030, up NT$31 or 3.1%. MediaTek (聯發科) ended at NT$1,315, a decline of NT$30, reflecting a 2.23% drop.
In his National Day speech, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced plans for next year's defense budget to exceed 3% of GDP, aiming to reach 5% by 2030. Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (漢翔, AIDC) shares turned from losses to gains, closing at NT$58.2, up NT$2.11. Thunder Tiger (雷虎) nearly hit the upper limit during intraday trading, finishing at NT$148, an increase of 4.96%, while Coretronic Intelligent Robotics Corporation (中光電) rose slightly to NT$116.5, a modest gain of 0.87%.
Shipbuilding companies also saw positive movements; CSBC Corporation (台船) surged 6.08% to NT$23.55, while Lungteh (龍德造船) climbed to NT$143, up 0.7%. Lianyou Metals Co. (聯友金屬), a rare earth concept stock, hit the daily limit at the opening, closing at NT$107. Mechema Chemicals International Corp. (美琪瑪) briefly reached the upper limit at NT$80.4, ending at NT$76.8, up 5.06%.
