ＩＮＤＥＸ 結果共88筆

Taipei 101 has maintained its position as the highest-valued land in Taipei for the 11th consecutive year, with an estimated value of NT＄2,001,000 per square meter. This equates to approximately NT＄6.615 million per ping, a traditional Taiwanese unit of area. Cathay Landmark Plaza follows closely behind, achieving record-high office rental prices and a land value of NT＄1,920,000 per square meter or roughly NT$63.47 million per ping. Shin Kong Life Tower, another prominent structure in Taipei’s skyline, claims the third-highest land price at NT＄1,904,000 per square meter, equivalent to about NT$62.94 million per ping. Land values in Taipei have been steadily rising for six years, although the rate of increase in 2023 appears to be slowing down. Taipei’s property value growth is considered the most stable among Taiwan’s six special municipalities, with a yearly increase of 1.37% in housing prices and a 0.48% rise in the land price index, according to the Ministry of the Interior’s latest housing price index.

A survey by Cathay Financial Holdings reveals a rise in Taiwan’s economic confidence, with the outlook index turning positive and stock market optimism rebounding. The December survey shows that 70% of the population expects the economic growth rate to exceed 2% in 2024, while 55% anticipate the inflation rate to remain above 2%. These expectations differ slightly from projections by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics (DGBAS), which forecasts a 3.35% economic growth rate and an inflation rate of 1.64% for 2024. The DGBAS data suggests that people may be more conservative about economic expansion and anticipate higher inflation. Additionally, expectations for salary adjustments have improved compared to 2022, with 45.9% of those surveyed predicting wage increases. Of these, 9.2% believe raises will exceed 3%, and 47.6% expect monthly regular wages to stay the same. Taiwan’s current situation confidence index has climbed from -23.2 in November to -3.0 in December, while the future outlook confidence index has improved from -9.1 to 3.6, signaling growing optimism about Taiwan’s upcoming economic climate.

The VisaGuide World Passport Index has revealed the most powerful passports in the world for December, with Taiwan ranked 70th overall. Spain tops the list, followed by Germany in third place, and the United States in 40th place. The ranking is based on the Destination Significance Score (DSS), which considers various factors. The Spanish passport allows visa-free entry to 43 countries and visa-free access to an additional 106 countries. Singapore holds the second spot and is considered the strongest passport in Asia, granting its citizens visa-free entry to 156 destinations. In comparison, the Taiwanese passport allows visa-free entry to 100 countries and regions, placing it lower than some other countries. China ranks 117th, offering its citizens visa-free access to 46 countries.

2023年將邁入尾聲，國外知名護照排名系統「VisaGuide.World Passport Index」以截至今年12月數據，公布「全球最強大護照」（World’s Most Powerful Passports）排名，冠軍由西班牙奪得，前5名依序還有新加坡、德國、義大利、法國，台灣則位列第70，大勝僅排第117的中國護照。

Taiwan stock market opens the week with a slight decline as TAIEX falls by 36.01 points to 17,637.86 on Monday (Dec. 18). Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) drop by NT$6 to NT$579 upon market opening. Traditional industrial stocks, particularly the steel sector, show resilience with Hsin Kuang Steel and Sheng Yu Steel Co., Ltd seeing shares rise over 2% in early trading. China Steel Corporation’s shares climb more than 1.8%, opening at NT$26.95. Analysts highlight the importance of the incoming U.S. November Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, a key inflation indicator for the Fed, and the impact of recent ETF rebalancing with stock replacements on individual stocks.

The Legislative Yuan has passed the Minimum Wage Bill in Taiwan, which requires employers to meet minimum wage standards when settling wages with employees. Noncompliance with this law could result in fines of up to NT＄1.5 million and public disclosure of the offender’s name. The new legislation mandates the inclusion of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as one of the key references when determining minimum wage, linking wage adjustments more closely with the cost of living. Previously, adjustments to the basic wage were governed by lesser regulations - the Deliberation Regulations for Basic Wage, which are merely administrative orders and do not guarantee annual wage increases. Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun welcomed the passage of this legislation, expressing gratitude to labor and employer groups, scholar experts, and legislators from all parties for their support. President Tsai Ing-wen had initially proposed the elevation of the Minimum Wage from an administrative order to the force of law in her 2016 policy plan, but it took seven years for the draft to make its way through the legislative process.

The Taoyuan Union of Pilots (TUP) has revealed that EVA Airways pilots have experienced a more than 10% decrease in real wages since 2011, resulting in a nearly 10% loss of the national pilot workforce. TUP accuses EVA of collaborating with illegal brokers to recruit foreign pilots, potentially jeopardizing flight safety. EVA pilots have unanimously passed a resolution to proceed with a strike vote, with details to be announced soon. Despite EVA’s record-high pre-tax profit, pilot wages have been frozen since 2011. Last year, pilot salaries were marginally adjusted, failing to keep up with the rising Consumer Price Index, resulting in a real wage decrease of 10% to 12%. The per diem for pilots, unchanged for 30 years, saw a minimal increase last year. Over a hundred national pilots, mostly experienced, have left EVA in the past year. The union criticizes EVA for cost-cutting measures that have led to staff resignations and safety incidents. They are urging the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to intervene and are planning a potential legal strike.

The New Power Party (NPP) has called for stricter regulations on minimum labor wages, proposing that manufacturers who violate laws should be banned from government procurement. The NPP emphasizes equal representation in decision-making, with a ＂1:1:1＂ ratio of labor, capital, and government-academic parties. They argue that adjustments to the minimum wage should not fall below the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth rate, linking wage increases to inflation and cost of living adjustments. NPP Chairwoman Claire Wang advocates for strict penalties, including adding violators to a government procurement blacklist. The NPP’s draft is inspired by France’s minimum wage laws, aiming to protect workers’ living standards in the face of rising costs.

Taiwan’s stock market opened strong on Tuesday, reaching a new high for the year of 17,528 points, surpassing the 17,500 mark. This increase came after a rise in U.S. stocks on Monday. The Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index (TAIEX) climbed by 78.65 points to 17,496.99 points, with a trading volume of NT$36.387 billion as of 9:06 a.m. Leading the gainers in early trading were Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), Largan Precision, and Foxconn. This week, as the market enters a central bank super week, banks in the U.S. and Europe are expected to announce their final rate decisions for the year. Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) chairman Huang Tien-mu expressed the government’s commitment to stabilizing the capital market and highlighted the resilience of Taiwan’s stock market. Huang assured that the FSC is prepared to manage the impact of the Federal Reserve’s decisions on the market.

Taiwan experiences a significant temperature drop as reported by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) on December 12th. Northern Taiwan sees a sharp decline in daytime highs, reaching around 18 to 19 degrees Celsius, with a damp and chilly atmosphere worsening at night. The cooler temperatures are attributed to the passing of a cold front and a strengthening northeastern monsoon. Central and southern Taiwan witness pronounced day-to-night temperature variations, with highs ranging from 26 to 29 degrees Celsius and lows falling between 20 and 22 degrees. Eastern Taiwan also experiences a cold snap, with top temperatures around 24 degrees Celsius. Sporadic, short-lived rainfall is expected in certain areas, while others will see mostly clear to cloudy skies. Gusty winds are predicted in open coastal areas, and the air quality may be affected by pollutants carried by northeastern winds. The air quality index rates different regions of Taiwan, with Yilan, Hualien-Taitung, and Penghu having ＂good＂ levels, while other areas are rated ＂moderate＂ or may experience ＂orange alert＂ levels.

Taiwan’s political scene is evolving with an increase in female participation and leadership. The nation leads in gender equality, ranking high in the U.N. Gender Inequality Index. Despite challenges highlighted by the #MeToo movement, Taiwan is focusing on empowering more women in politics.

全球企業ESG永續經營浪潮蓬蓬勃勃，拔尖企業無不翹首以待道瓊永續指數(Dow Jones Sustainability Index, DJSI)揭曉，以檢視永續推展成果。在全球同步公布的2023年DJSI永續指數入選名單中，台新金控不但是入選後連續6年入選「世界」（DJSI World）及「新興市場」（DJSI-Emerging Markets）指數成分股雙榜，卓越的評比成績更一舉列名銀行產業別的世界及臺灣雙料冠軍。台新金控總經理林維俊難掩欣喜表示，台新金控一舉站上全球銀行同業的頂尖，肯定了台新認真推動永續的成果，經營團隊及各子公司員工都倍感榮耀，而臺灣金融同業表現也相當搶眼，讓全世界都看見臺灣不凡的永續努力。

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislator Lai Hsiang-ling has called for the inclusion of a formula in the Minimum Wage Act to guarantee that wage adjustments are not lower than the inflation rate. Meanwhile, New Power Party legislator Chiu Hsien-chih has demanded that representatives from the Ministry of Labor (MOL) be involved in the wage deliberation committee and that evaluation reports be made public before meetings. Lai has expressed concern about the lack of changes in the current draft of the Minimum Wage Act and the limited number of academic representatives on the committee. She has proposed increasing the number of labor representatives and considering factors such as the consumer price index annual increase rate, previous year levels, rent, and employment dependency ratios in annual wage adjustments. Lai has also suggested barring non-compliant small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from participating in government tenders.

SinoPac Securities Investment Service (SinoPac Inv. Service) has released a report on the Taiwanese stock market, highlighting its impressive growth streak. Taiwan stocks have surged over 44% since 2020 through the end of November, outpacing South Korea’s market and even surpassing the US S&P 500’s gain. The report suggests that Taiwan stocks are poised to set a new high for the year, as the index has successfully breached the critical threshold of 16,800 points. SinoPac Inv. Service also points out that political performance and a thriving stock market are often seen as indicators of the incumbent’s record, with the stock market tending to show an upward trend before the presidential elections. Given the current momentum and what is described as a ＂multi-bottom pattern,＂ investment strategists at SinoPac are suggesting a ＂bullish-bias＂ investment approach. As investors closely monitor economic indicators before making their predictions on the election’s impact, Taiwan’s stock market enters the end-of-year season with robust investor optimism.

Taipei City has been crowned the champion of happiness in Taiwan, according to the ＂2023 County and City Happiness Index Survey＂ conducted by the Economic Daily News and Cathay Life Insurance. Chiayi City secured the runner-up position, followed closely by Taichung City, Hsinchu City, and Taitung County. Taichung City also received the ＂Most Improved Award＂ for achieving the highest government satisfaction rating in Taiwan. The survey, which questioned over 15,260 Taiwanese aged 20 and up, was conducted from Aug. 24 to Oct. 16, 2023.

Taiwan Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-long addressed the Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee, leaving open the possibility of further interest rate hikes. While rates in the U.S., U.K., Europe, Canada, and Australia are near their peak, Taiwan is approaching its high point. Previous inflation spikes were caused by typhoon impacts, leading to speculation about rate hikes. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 3% in October. The Central Bank’s council members unanimously decided to temporarily halt rate raises, but some members agreed to suspend hikes for only one quarter, suggesting aggressive responses to future inflation are possible. Market watchers are observing whether interest rate hikes might resume in December if inflation surpasses 3%. Yang attributed the current inflation to typhoon impacts, particularly rising vegetable and fruit prices, and promised close observation of rate raises in the fourth quarter. Economic growth is expected to remain above 2% this year, but the fourth quarter may see a downward revision to 1%.

Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs emphasizes the importance of key tech industries to the country’s economy and the need to protect them from corporate espionage. The high-tech sector in Taiwan has attracted attention from mainland China, resulting in the headhunting of Taiwanese tech talent. In response, Taiwan amended its National Security Act to impose stricter penalties for theft of business secrets. Additionally, Taiwan’s industrial production index has declined for 16 months, but there are signs of increased demand in the AI industry chain. Despite uncertainties in consumer behavior and global economic recovery, industry feedback suggests potential growth in future quarters.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs reported that the Industrial Production Index for September 2023 decreased by 6.72% compared to the same month in the previous year. The manufacturing industry experienced a decline rate of 7.01%, marking 16 consecutive months of negative growth.

Taiwan ranks sixth globally in terms of the proportion of annual income required to purchase a 128GB iPhone 15, spending just 2.70% of their yearly earnings, according to a study by Global Index.

A survey reveals high-stress levels among recent graduates in Taiwan, with 70.9% facing mental pressure and 94.9% experiencing financial stress during their job search. The Jobless Pain Index reaches a ten-year high at 76.5. Experts recommend acquiring new skills for better job market competitiveness.

民眾申請「外籍看護工」時，除了需要醫院開立的診斷證明書及傳遞單外，另外也將根據「巴氏量表（Barthel Index）」來進行個案的日常生活功能評估。今（12日）衛福部與勞動部邀集民間團體、醫療及長照專家召開會議，討論「常使用長照服務的長照對象」、「確診失智症者」及「身心障礙者」能不能納入免評態樣。衛福部表示，期望未來能朝多元方式認定，相關細節規劃與執行，仍待與勞動部開會定案後，再對外說明。

Kuomintang’s Presidential candidate, Han You-yi, proposes changes to employment conditions for foreign caregivers, including exempting individuals age 80 and above from the Barthel Index requirement.

According to the most recent data, the maintenance and repairs index reached 109.84 in July, exhibiting an annual growth rate of 3.38%. At the same time, the domestic housing index jumped to 105.19, a 1.88% increase year on year — both setting historical records.

Taiwan passport holders can enjoy visa-free access to 144 countries and territories worldwide, securing the 31st position in the latest Henley Passport Index released on Tuesday, in a tie with Panama and Macau. 

全球資料庫網站Numbeo公布「2023全球醫療照護指數（Health Care Index）」年中排名，台灣以85.9分高居第一，第2、3名分別是南韓、日本。