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Prospect of war unlikely across the Taiwan Strait: scholar
Analysis by Professor Li Cheng of The University of Hong Kong on the relationships between Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China in the context of the new national security law. Insights on the unlikelihood of a Taiwan Strait war, Hong Kong’s unique position, and the need for cooperative approaches between the U.S. and China.
2024/03/22 17:31
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Foxconn predicts triple-digit growth in GPU module business
Foxconn’s Chairman Liu Young-way announces significant growth for the company due to increased generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. Foxconn’s leading position in the AI server market is highlighted, with plans for growth in GPU module and AI server businesses. The company’s cloud network products are experiencing strong growth, with a focus on electric vehicles as well. Liu’s trip to the U.S. for the Nvidia GTC conference aims to showcase Foxconn’s new collaboration model. Shared prosperity and dedication to profits are emphasized in the company’s philosophy.
2024/03/15 15:39
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US reviews Chinese car imports citing security risks
China criticizes US restrictions on car exports, citing national security concerns. US subjects Chinese internet-connected cars to security risk review, sparking backlash from China’s Ministry of Commerce. White House alleges data collection on US citizens, prompting investigation. President Biden calls potential influx of Chinese cars a national security risk. US considers import restrictions on Chinese vehicles, impacting connected and autonomous cars and parts. U.S. Secretary of Commerce warns of data collection by Chinese smart connected cars, likening them to "iPhones on wheels."
2024/03/05 17:12
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Trump vows to reinstate tariffs on China if reelected
Former U.S. President Donald Trump pledges to reapply tariffs on Chinese goods, potentially exceeding 60%, if he wins the November presidential election. He offers no clear answer on whether he would assist Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. Trump plans on imposing a 60% tariff on Chinese goods, a number that may increase. He is leading in the Republican primary and is expected to face incumbent President Joe Biden in November. Trump imposed tariffs amounting to US$250 billion on Chinese imported goods during his term, sparking a trade war. Biden retained Trump’s tariff policy and banned the export of advanced semiconductors and semiconductor production equipment. Trump disputes rumors of another trade war with China, stating that he has handled all matters related to China well. He also criticizes Taiwan for taking semiconductor jobs from the U.S. and suggests imposing tariffs and trade barriers on Taiwan.
2024/02/06 17:05
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Supermicro stock soars after surpassing financial forecasts
Supermicro, the U.S.-based server and computer manufacturer, experienced a stock price surge of over 10% during after-hours trading on Jan. 29. This increase followed the release of the company’s financials for the October-December 2023 period, which exceeded market expectations. Supermicro upgraded its full-year revenue outlook for the 2024 fiscal year from US$10-11 billion to US$14.3-14.7 billion. The current quarter’s sales estimate is US$3.7-4.1 billion, with an adjusted earnings per share of US$5.20-US$6.01. Net sales for the company have more than doubled from US$1.8 billion in the same period last year to $3.66 billion, surpassing the market estimate of US$3.42 billion. Supermicro CEO Charles Liang attributed the company’s success to winning new partners and the increasing demand for its optimized AI computer platforms and comprehensive IT solutions.
2024/01/30 17:46
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Taiwan’s stock market climbs despite TSMC share dip
Taiwan’s stock market rose to 17,595.01 on Friday morning, despite Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) shares falling to NT$578. This contrasts with major U.S. stock indices, as the Dow Jones rose by 10.15 points while the Nasdaq fell by 81.91 points. TSMC’s American Depositary Receipt (ADR) price also dropped below US$100 to US$99.13, causing a decline of around 1.04%. This decrease in TSMC’s value affected the main index by approximately 16 points, and its market capitalization dipped below NT$15 trillion. Meanwhile, Asus Chairman Jonney Shih announced the company’s intensified efforts in artificial intelligence (A.I.) development, resulting in Asus shares rising by 6 points to open at NT$460.
2024/01/05 18:32
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TSMC leads market surge amid global downturn
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) leads Taiwan’s stock market with expectations of over 20% annual revenue increase. TSMC’s stock price stabilizes, opening at NT$580, raising market capitalization to NT$15.03 trillion. In contrast, major U.S. indices closed negatively on Wednesday. TSMC’s American Depositary Shares (ADR) decreased by 1.34%, closing at $100.17.
2024/01/04 15:04
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C.C. Wei to maintain course after Liu’s 2024 exit: analyst
TSMC chairman Mark Liu’s upcoming retirement in 2024 has led investment experts to suggest that the semiconductor giant should slow down the progress of its new manufacturing facility in the United States. Industry analyst Jonah Cheng believes that TSMC’s policy direction will remain unchanged under the leadership of chief executive C.C. Wei, who is expected to succeed Liu as chairman. Cheng also proposes maintaining a dual leadership structure to cultivate successors from various backgrounds. Speculation suggests that Liu’s retirement may be linked to potential investment challenges in the company’s U.S. expansion. In response to these challenges, Cheng recommends a deceleration in the construction of TSMC’s second U.S. plant. He also highlights the need to assess the current downturn in the car market and economic outlook before proceeding with the German plant focused on automotive applications. Cheng suggests that the Japanese facility could be an optimal choice due to labor and power shortages in Taiwan, as well as cultural similarities and strong government support from Japan. TSMC’s primary obstacle, according to Cheng, is maintaining its leadership position in the semiconductor industry, especially after surpassing Intel. Additionally, the cyclical nature of the industry and the potential opportunities presented by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) applications pose further challenges for the company.
2023/12/20 18:45
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Taiwan’s TAIEX falls by 36 points to 17,637.86
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.
2023/12/18 10:27
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Taiwan Central Bank holds interest rate steady for 3rd time
Taiwan’s central bank has announced that it will maintain its interest rate for the third consecutive time in its quarterly board meeting. The decision was influenced by price changes and the need to balance stabilizing consumer prices with sustaining economic growth. Despite rising consumer prices due to natural disasters, the central bank remains optimistic and expects the inflation rate to drop below 2% next year. Forecasts for Taiwan’s GDP growth rate in 2023 are more positive, projected to reach 3.12%. This is supported by increasing private consumption, particularly in tourism and dining, as well as the central bank’s expectation of a global export increase to stimulate local investment and drive economic recovery. In contrast to the Federal Reserve in the U.S., Taiwan’s central bank stated that its monetary policy approach would be adjusted gradually based on the country’s economic conditions. Despite high housing prices, the central bank has decided against imposing stricter measures or withdrawing from market intervention to avoid further impact on the property market.
2023/12/15 16:31
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Taiwan to U.S. travel nears pre-COVID levels, up 84%: MOTC
Discover America Committee in Taiwan President Brenda Tang revealed that the U.S. travel market from Taiwan has rebounded to 84% of pre-pandemic levels, according to data from the Tourism Administration. Taiwanese travelers heading to the United States surged by 185% from January to October this year, reaching 396,913, as reported by the National Travel and Tourism Office. Flights to the U.S. during the peak summer season had load factors of over 90%, while the off-peak months of September and October maintained load factors of at least 85%. China Airlines and EVA Airways have nearly returned to pre-pandemic flight levels, and Starlux Airlines is set to launch its San Francisco route. United Airlines plans to double its Taipei to San Francisco flights, and Delta Air Lines is preparing to commence a Taipei to Seattle route. Tour package prices to the U.S. for the first quarter of next year and the Lunar New Year peak season are expected to increase by no more than 25%, offering travelers some price assurance amid growing demand.
2023/12/12 19:26
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U.S. elections, not Taiwan’s, may shift policy: Academic
The George Washington University Professor Robert Sutter argues that Taiwan’s elections have little impact on U.S. policy towards the island, but the upcoming U.S. presidential election in 2024 could be significant. Both political parties in the U.S. and Congress have prioritized defending American interests and countering China’s actions, with Taiwan playing an increasingly important role. Taiwan’s strategic position, high-tech development, democratic politics, and free market economy have influenced the international order and led to stronger U.S. support. Sutter predicts that if Lai Ching-te, the Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate, wins the election, U.S.-Taiwan cooperation will further deepen. However, Sutter also suggests that the 2024 U.S. election, particularly if a candidate with an "America First" stance like Donald Trump prevails, could bring a shift in U.S. policy consistency towards Taiwan and pose challenges in countering China’s provocations.
2023/12/12 13:54
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Taiwan’s TAIEX hits year high, crosses 17,500 mark
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.
2023/12/12 10:24
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Taiwan stocks waver, TSMC rises amid U.S. market downturn
Taipei stock market remains steady around 17,360 points following a downturn in the US stock market. TSMC, the leading semiconductor foundry service provider, sees a rise of NT$3 to reach NT$573. Other semiconductor companies like UMC, PSMC, and VIS also experience modest gains. Additionally, electronic stocks like MediaTek show strength with a 1.4% increase to NT$940. Cable stocks outperform, while other sectors show slight fluctuations.
2023/12/07 11:35
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FSC head touts domestic impact on Taiwan stock market
The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) Chairman, Huang Tien-mu, addressed questions from Kuomintang Legislator Lin Te-fu about Taiwan’s stock market. Huang emphasized the significant role of domestic funds and corporations in driving market momentum, despite the heavy presence of foreign capital. While foreign capital makes up around 40% of the market value, it accounts for only 30% of regular stock volume. Huang stated that this indicates the considerable impact of internal funds and corporations on the market. Huang also highlighted a record inflow of foreign investment in November 2022, with overseas investors injecting over NTD $350 billion into the Taiwanese market. He attributed this surge in foreign investment to cooling inflation rates in the United States and a retreat from the highs of U.S. national debt yields. Huang argued that confidence in Taiwan’s robust economic fundamentals and attractive yield rates has led to increased foreign investment trust in Taiwan’s stocks. He further emphasized that the sustained influx of ’hot money’ into Taiwan indicates substantial interest from both foreign and local investors. This interaction underscores the FSC’s recognition of diverse investment sources in strengthening the Taiwanese stock market and suggests a cautiously optimistic outlook for continued investment in the island’s economic landscape.
2023/12/06 20:26
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Nvidia chief: U.S. chip self-sufficiency a decade away
Nvidia’s President, Jensen Huang, stated at the New York Times’ DealBook Summit that achieving U.S. independence in the chip supply chain and reducing reliance on overseas manufacturing could take 10 to 20 years. President Joe Biden’s administration has imposed a ban on chip exports to China, citing national security concerns and the need to maintain the U.S.’s lead in the semiconductor industry. Nvidia, among other companies, is impacted by these export control measures, leading to concerns about negative impacts on the company’s revenue. However, Huang revealed that Nvidia is developing chips compliant with U.S. regulations for the Chinese market and plans to re-enter once they are ready. He also warned that the export ban could accelerate China’s domestic chip development, with numerous Chinese companies already working on competing technologies. Huang emphasized that Nvidia is already a decade ahead in artificial intelligence technology and that AI and deep learning innovation involve more than just designing new chips.
2023/11/30 23:18
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Taiwan Central Bank open to further interest rate hikes
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%.
2023/11/09 15:56
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U.S. business challenges in China: Interview with Ker Gibbs
American businesses have devised new strategies for the Chinese market despite the soaring tensions between Washington and Beijing, according to the former president of the American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai, Ker Gibbs.
2023/07/13 18:56
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NBA Star declares love for Taiwan and night market delights
U.S. basketball icon Dwight Howard expressed his profound admiration for life in Taiwan and the vibrant night markets during an exclusive interview with TVBS on Friday (May 19).
2023/05/28 08:02