TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Chunghwa Post in March led Taiwanese financial institutions in domestic government bond purchases with NT$10.8 billion (US$338.7 million), according to data from the Taipei Exchange.
The state-owned institution has ranked first among all Taiwanese financial institutions in such purchases for the past three years. In 2025, Chunghwa Post acquired NT$128.8 billion in Taiwanese government bonds, standing as the only financial entity to exceed NT$100 billion in net purchases that year, according to CTEE.
Following Chunghwa Post, Taiwan Shin Kong Commercial Bank ranked second with NT$7 billion in March, KGI Bank was third with NT$3 billion, Bank of Taiwan fourth with NT$2.4 billion, and Cathay United Bank fifth with NT$1.6 billion. Of the four, three are private banks.
Bonds, among the world’s most heavily traded financial instruments, have a total market value larger than global stock markets. They represent loans from investors to companies or governments, with borrowers paying interest over time and returning the principal on a predetermined date, according to Ig.
Recent global events have contributed to cautious market sentiment. Rising oil prices from Middle East tensions have fueled concerns about inflation, leading investors to monitor potential central bank policy adjustments in the second quarter.
However, Chunghwa Post holds substantial capital but is not authorized to lend. As a result, it has increased its holdings of government bonds to generate returns.
Earlier this year, it purchased NT$11.6 billion in bonds in January, remaining the month’s largest buyer among financial institutions. Its purchases slowed in February, temporarily dropping it out of the top 10, before rising again in March.
On the selling side, securities firms continued to dominate. Yuanta Securities led net sales with NT$10.3 billion, followed by Fubon Securities, SinoPac Securities, King’s Town Bank, and Hua Nan Securities.
