TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s stock market opened higher Monday, driven by optimism over US-China trade progress and investor enthusiasm ahead of Computex 2025.
The Taiwan Stock Exchange Capitalization Weighted Stock Index, or TAIEX, gained 214.5 points to close at 21,129.54. Turnover totaled NT$279 billion (US$9 billion), with gains led by robotics and artificial intelligence-related shares as investors positioned ahead of the major tech expo, according to CNA and CTEE.
TSMC inched up 0.84% to NT$957 (US$32). MediaTek declined 0.75% to NT$1,315, while Foxconn added 4.08% to NT$153.
Investor focus remained on AI-related stocks as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) is scheduled to visit Taiwan this week to meet supply chain partners and deliver a keynote speech on May 19.
Synpower, Macnica Galaxy, Taiwan Benefit, and Yinghan Technology again hit the daily limit following strong performances last week. Aurotek, Ace Pillar, and Tongtai Machine also hit the daily limit.
Machine tool manufacturers such as Taiwan Takisawa Technology and Falcon Machine Tools each gained over 5%. With advances in AI and robotics, Taiwanese machine tool and component makers are increasingly supplying key parts to global robotics manufacturers.
Application-specific integrated circuit designer Alchip Technologies closed at the daily limit of NT$2,530 after reporting a first-quarter net profit of NT$1.5 billion, up nearly 20% from a year earlier. The company also dismissed market speculation about delays in 3nm chip orders from Amazon.
Application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs, are custom-designed chips tailored for specific tasks, such as Bitcoin mining or AI model training and inference. Their ability to optimize performance for dedicated workloads allows for greater computational efficiency and energy savings compared to general-purpose processors.
Shipping stocks gained on improved sentiment following Russia’s invitation to Ukraine for direct talks in Turkey aimed at resolving the ongoing war. Chinese Maritime Transport hit the daily limit during trading, while Franbo Lines and U-Ming Marine Transport ended up more than 3%.
Traditional sectors posted broad gains, with electric machinery rising over 2% and textiles, cables, glass, paper, and shipping each up more than 1%. Food, rubber, and tourism stocks underperformed, closing lower.
Analyst Wang Chao-li (王兆立) advised investors to monitor potential developments in semiconductor tariffs and Taiwan dollar exchange rate fluctuations.
Mega International Vice President Huang Kuo-wei (黃國偉) said the anticipated US-China trade statement had surpassed expectations, fueling optimism in Taiwan’s market. Huang added that Computex-related gains may still hinge on actual event outcomes.
Computex 2025 will be held May 20–23 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center under the theme “AI Next.” The event will feature 1,400 exhibitors highlighting advances in AI computing, smart mobility, advanced connectivity, and sustainable technology, according to Fet.
This information is not intended as personalized financial advice. Investors are encouraged to conduct their own research and analysis before making investment decisions.
