TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The international oil market experienced a jolt as the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury (史詩怒火行動) against Iran a week ago, sending oil prices to their highest since summer 2024. This surge has sparked investor concerns over inflation and the Federal Reserve's potential interest rate cuts.
Taiwan's stock market opened lower on Friday (March 6), dropping 189 points to 33,483.94. It ended the day at 33,599.54, with a trading volume of NT$631.107 billion (approximately US$19.89 billion). TSMC (台積電) closed at NT$1,890 (approximately US$59.56), down NT$10 (approximately US$0.32). Foxconn (鴻海) ended at NT$223 (approximately US$7.03), while UMC (聯電) finished at NT$62 (approximately US$1.95). Delta Electronics (台達電) closed at NT$1,320 (approximately US$41.60), down NT$15 (approximately US$0.47).
In the financial sector, Fubon Financial (富邦金) closed at NT$88.8 (approximately US$2.80), while Cathay Financial (國泰金) ended at NT$73 (approximately US$2.30). CTBC Financial (中信金) closed at NT$51.4 (approximately US$1.62), while Hua Nan Financial (華南金) closed at NT$35.2 (approximately US$1.11). Mega Financial (兆豐金) remained flat at NT$39.3 (approximately US$1.24).
U.S. stocks closed lower on Thursday (March 5), with the S&P 500 index dropping 0.6%, erasing its modest gains for the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted over 1,100 points during the session before settling down 784 points, a 1.6% decline. The Nasdaq Composite Index also slipped 0.3%. (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31.73)
