Taiwan shares advanced at the close on Friday as strength in technology-related sectors powered the market higher. The benchmark Taiwan Weighted rose 1.80% by the end of trading, supported principally by moves in the Optoelectronic, Electronic Parts/Components and Other Electronic sectors.
Top and bottom movers
Among the session's biggest winners, Nuvoton Technology Corp (TW:4919) led with a 10.00% gain, adding 11.50 points to finish at 126.50. Davicom Semiconductor Inc (TW:3094) also climbed 10.00%, up 4.70 points to 51.70 at the close, and King Yuan Electronics Co Ltd (TW:2449) recorded a 10.00% increase, rising 26.50 points to end at 291.50.
On the downside, Formosan Union Chemical Corp (TW:1709) fell 8.73%, a drop of 3.75 points to 39.20. Ampoc Far-East Co Ltd (TW:2493) declined 6.78%, down 14.00 points to 192.50, while First Steamship Co Ltd (TW:2601) decreased 6.03%, slipping 0.38 points to 5.92.
Market breadth and notable milestones
Advancers outpaced decliners on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, with 768 stocks rising against 262 that fell, and 90 issues finishing unchanged. Notably, shares of Davicom Semiconductor Inc (TW:3094) rose to a five-year high, gaining 10.00% to reach 51.70.
Commodities and currency moves
Commodities were mixed during the session. Crude oil for October delivery fell 0.92%, or 0.94, to $100.97 a barrel. Brent oil for November delivery dropped 1.18%, or 1.24, to $103.58 a barrel. December Gold Futures rose 0.49%, or 21.72, to trade at $4,421.42 a troy ounce.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar weakened slightly against the Taiwan dollar, with USD/TWD down 0.22% to 31.80. The TWD/CNY rate was unchanged by 0.14% at 0.21. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures traded up 0.07% at 100.05.
This session's performance underscores the market's sensitivity to concentrated strength in electronics-related industries, while commodity and currency movements provided a mixed backdrop for traders.