TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's stock market surged 0.76% Wednesday (Jan. 14), closing at 30,941.78 points on reports of U.S. tariff reductions. Investors traded NT$658.7 billion (around US$20.8 billion) as tech and electrical manufacturers rallied strongly. The weighted index gained 234.56 points amid optimism about lower export duties to the United States.
The weighted index opened at 30,742.53 and peaked at 30,994.81 during Wednesday's session. The electronics sector index closed at 1,881.7 points, gaining 0.77% on strong tech demand. The over-the-counter (OTC) market index surged 1.84% to 290.6 points, reaching a new high.
Reports of tariff reductions to 15% on Taiwan exports to the U.S. fueled gains in electrical manufacturers. Fortune Electric (華城電機) hit the daily limit at NT$893 (around US$28.26), while Shihlin Electric (士電) reached NT$198 (around US$6.27). TECO (東元) also locked limit-up at NT$90.5 (around US$2.86), reflecting strong optimism about trade benefits.
Plastics stocks rose 1.79% and textiles gained 1.96% among the eight major sectors. Paper stocks increased 1.18% while construction edged up 0.42% in Wednesday's trading. Financial stocks fell 0.43%, food dropped 0.26%, and cement and ceramics declined 0.19%.
Top gainers included Shihlin Electric (士電), Cybertek (榮科), DrayTek (居易), Sunko Ink (三晃), and Siward (希華). AUO (友達), Tatung (大同), Acbel (康舒), TSEC (元晶), and Walsin Lihwa (華新) led trading volume. Steepest declines hit ASC (上品), Realtek (瑞昱), Alchip (世芯-KY), Taliang Technology (大量), and Tung Ho Steel (東和).
Memory chip stocks showed mixed performance with Nanya Technology (南亞科) climbing 2.83% to NT$236.5 (around US$7.48). Winbond (華邦電) remained flat at NT$99.8 (around US$3.16), while Powerchip (力積電) fell 0.2% to NT$50.6 (around US$1.60). ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31.6)
