TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's stock market closed down 488.54 points at 22,801.27 on Thursday (Feb. 5), a 1.51% decrease, with turnover reaching NT$690.057 billion (around US$21.79 billion). The weighted index opened and peaked at 22,241.64 points before hitting a low of 21,769.08 points. The non-financial sector index fell 493.51 points to 28,302.12.
The electronics and semiconductor sectors weakened, closing down 1.89% and 1.57% respectively, while financial and tourism stocks provided support, ending up 0.65% and 1.49%. The OTC index, which tracks small and medium-sized stocks, fell 1.71%. A total of 339 stocks rose while 656 fell, and 94 remained unchanged, reflecting broad market weakness across the trading session.
The eight major sector categories showed varied performance, with food stocks rising 1.11%, textiles up 1.35%, and financial stocks increasing 0.65%. Plastics and chemicals fell 1.5%, while machinery and electronics dropped 1.9%. The memory sector faced selling pressure, with Nanya Technology (南亞科) and Winbond Electronics (華邦電) dropping 6.78% and 5.53% respectively after U.S. chipmaker Micron's stock plummeted over 9%.
The most actively traded stocks included Innolux (群創), AUO (友達), KGI Taiwan TOP 50 ETF (凱基台灣TOP50), Macronix (旺宏), and Unitech (燿華). Top gainers were CyCraft (奧義賽博-KY創), Neo Solar Power (聯合再生), Tai Twun (台端), Prime Electronics and Satellitics (百一), and FitTech (惠特). The biggest decliners included Yuanta DJCI Silver ER Futures ETF (期元大道瓊白銀), Zenitron (增你強), WNC (啟碁), and Global View (遠見).
The printed circuit board (PCB) sector saw significant corrections, with Chin Poon (敬鵬) and Compeq (華通) both dropping over 8%, and HannStar Board (瀚宇博) falling more than 6%. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31.68)