Taipei shares close sharply higher; index above 8,600 pts
TAIPEI (AFX-ASIA) - Share prices closed sharply higher on the back of
follow-through buying amid continuing foreign interest, with the index
remaining above the key 8,600-point level, dealers said.
The bellwether electronics sector continued to dominate on a convergence of
market funds, with sentiment underpinned by the overnight upturn on NASDAQ and
the Merrill Lynch technology symposium, they said.
UMC was under the spotlight after going ex-stock dividend for 1.50 twd,
with a huge amount of buy orders remaining unfulfilled, they added.
The weighted index closed up 195.43 points or 2.32 pct at 8,608.91, off a
high of 8,640.11.
Volume was 3.78 bln shares worth 216.12 bln twd.
Risers led decliners 272 to 177, with 60 stocks unchanged.
A total of 49 stocks closed limit-up and three limit-down.
The electronics sector gained 4.12 pct, with UMC closing limit-up 4.50 at
74.50 twd on volume of 101.85 mln shares.
The plastics/petrochemical, textile, construction, financial and food
sectors were up 2.35, 2.10, 0.77, 0.66 and 0.09 pct, respectively.
The cement and paper sectors underperformed, down 0.59 and 0.02 pct.
The Taiwan dollar closed the morning at 32.340 against the U.S dollar,
after trading within 32.329-32.345 and compared with the previous close of 32.
349. |
