TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's benchmark stock index fell 74.92 points to close at 30,360.55 on Thursday (Jan. 8), a 0.25% decline after a volatile session that saw the market swing more than 325 points. Trading volumes reached NT$736.51 billion (around US$23.76 billion) as investors navigated the turbulent session. The index plunged over 160 points in early trading before staging a partial recovery.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC, 台積電) drove a morning rally that pushed the index to a record intraday high of 30,593.49 points. The gains proved short-lived as selling pressure returned in afternoon trading. The weighted index opened at 30,330.58 points, hit a low of 30,268.36 points, while the non-financial index fell 86.02 points to 26,929.61.
Among the eight major stock categories, plastics emerged as the top performer with a 2.26% gain, followed by textiles up 1.66% and financials rising 0.49%. The electronics index declined 0.39% while the semiconductor index edged up 0.19%. Machinery stocks fell 0.40%, contributing to weakness in the broader electronics sector.
TSMC shares hit NT$1,700 (around US$54.84) in early trading but closed at NT$1,685 (around US$54.35), up NT$10 or 0.6%. Foxconn (鴻海) tumbled 3.77% to close at NT$229.5 (around US$7.40). Defense stocks rallied after U.S. President Donald Trump called for increased defense research funding. Thunder Tiger (雷虎) hit its daily limit at NT$158.5 (around US$5.11), while Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (漢翔, AIDC) gained 6.19%.