Taiwan equities ended the session firmly higher, with the Taiwan Weighted Index rising 0.89% to close at a fresh all-time high, underscoring continued investor appetite for technology-linked shares. Gains were led by the semiconductor, electronics, and computer peripherals sectors, which together account for a substantial share of market capitalization and export revenue.
The rally reflects Taiwan’s central role in global technology supply chains, particularly as demand for advanced chips, power management components, and memory products remains resilient. Despite global uncertainty around growth and interest rates, local equities have benefited from steady foreign inflows and improving earnings visibility across key manufacturers.
Market breadth was mixed, with select high-growth names driving the index higher while pockets of weakness persisted elsewhere. Still, momentum remained firmly positive, reinforcing Taiwan’s status as one of Asia’s strongest-performing equity markets this year.
Chip and Electronics Shares Lead Gains
Technology stocks dominated the session’s top performers, with several mid- and large-cap names posting near double-digit advances.
Among the strongest gainers:
- Formosa Advanced Technologies surged 9.85% to TWD 64.70, reaching a five-year high.
- Bestec Power Electronics climbed 9.84% to TWD 20.10, supported by optimism around power management demand.
- Elite Semiconductor Memory Technology rose 9.77% to TWD 118.00, marking a three-year high.
These advances highlight sustained investor confidence in Taiwan’s semiconductor ecosystem, which benefits from global spending on artificial intelligence, data centers, and advanced electronics. Memory-related names have drawn renewed interest as pricing conditions stabilize after a prolonged downturn.
Not all stocks participated in the rally. On the downside:
- Ampoc Far-East dropped 6.56% to TWD 121.00
- Uniflex Technology fell 6.35% to TWD 16.95
- Good Will Instrument declined 5.66% to TWD 55.00
Declines were largely stock-specific and did not derail broader market sentiment, which remained constructive through the close.
Global Markets and Currency Signals
External markets provided a generally supportive backdrop. Energy prices edged higher, helping resource-linked sentiment across Asia. U.S. crude rose 0.57% to $57.75 a barrel, while Brent crude gained 0.54% to $61.18, reflecting cautious optimism about demand at the start of the year.
Gold also strengthened, with February futures up 1.22% to $4,394.10 per ounce, signaling ongoing investor interest in defensive assets alongside equities.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar strengthened slightly against the Taiwan dollar, with USD/TWD up 0.07% to 31.41, while the yuan cross remained steady. The U.S. Dollar Index futures slipped 0.06% to 97.99, indicating mild dollar softness globally.
Key market takeaways include:
- Taiwan Weighted Index closes at a record high, up 0.89%
- Semiconductor and electronics stocks drive gains
- Several tech names hit multi-year highs
- Oil and gold prices move higher, supporting sentiment
- Currency moves remain contained, limiting volatility
Together, these factors point to a market supported by technology leadership, stable macro signals, and sustained investor confidence.
