TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s stock market declined Thursday as weaker global markets and pre–Lunar New Year profit-taking weighed on sentiment.
The Taiwan Capitalization Weighted Stock Index (TAIEX) fell 488.54 points to close at 31,801.27, falling below 32,000. Turnover totaled NT$690.6 billion (US$21.8 billion), according to CNA and CTEE.
Delta Electronics led losses, dropping 4.96% to NT$1,150. TSMC briefly retested NT$1,760 during the session before closing down 1.12% at NT$1,765.
Foxconn declined 1.6% to NT$215.5. MediaTek fell 1.67% to NT$1,770 after CEO Rick Tsai (蔡力行) said the company expects a significant decline in smartphone revenue this quarter, according to UDN.
He added that growth in MediaTek’s smart device platform business could help offset part of the weakness. Tsai said 2026 is likely to remain challenging for the smartphone industry, though demand is expected to recover over the next year to 18 months.
The number of stocks trading above NT$1,000 per share held steady at 33. Aspeed Technology, the TAIEX’s highest-priced stock, dropped 5.29% to NT$9,130, while server chassis maker Chenbro Micom rose to its daily limit-up at NT$1,085.
Memory-related stocks retreated after Micron underperformed overnight, according to Yahoo Finance. Winbond Electronics, Nanya Technology, and Walton Advanced Engineering posted notable declines.
Phison Electronics, PSMC, and Macronix International also ended lower. The sector had previously gained support from expectations of higher chip prices following earlier supply tightness and cyclical demand recovery.
Printed circuit board makers also corrected, with Chin-Poon Industrial and Compeq Manufacturing falling more than 8%, and HannStar Board, Unimicron Technology, and Tripod Technology falling more than 5%. PCBs serve as the foundation for electronic components, enabling signal and current transmission through copper foil circuits.
In contrast, funds flowed into traditional sectors. The department store, hospitality and tourism, and textile and fiber sectors posted the day’s strongest gains, rising 1.86%, 1.49% and 1.35%, respectively.
President Capital Management Chair Li Fang-kuo (黎方國) said the market has moved from a strong upward trend to a period of wider swings. With the Lunar New Year holiday approaching and uncertainty surrounding the US Federal Reserve’s policy direction, he said more cautious investors are reducing holdings. Others are buying on pullbacks, helping support the market, Li said.
Li said the index could fluctuate within a 1,000- to 2,000-point range. He suggested investors keep an eye on financial and traditional industries, which tend to be more stable during periods of market volatility.
Senior analyst Chien Po-yi (簡伯儀) said the broader market remains in a long-term upward trend. He added that small- and mid-cap stocks with clear growth themes are currently outperforming larger-cap shares.
The local market will close for 11 days starting Feb. 11 for the Lunar New Year holiday. The TAIEX has gained on the final trading day before the holiday in 17 of the past 20 years, an 85% rate.
This information is not intended as personalized financial advice. Investors are encouraged to conduct their own research and analysis before making investment decisions.
