Hong Kong, China hit records as Japan slips

The China Post - Asian markets were mixed Friday, with Hong Kong and China stocks rising to records, while shares in Japan slipped as investors sold real estate and insurance companies following a three-day gain. Full Story

Shares close little changed as gains eroded

The China Post - Taiwan share prices closed little changed Friday as late profit-taking eroded gains spurred by Wall Street's overnight advance and purchases by institutional investors, dealers said. Full Story

34% of manufacturers hope for stable political situation: poll

The China Post - Approximately 34 percent of local manufacturers who responded to a recent survey said that maintaining political stability is what they most like to see the government do to improve the domestic investment climate, according to the results of the poll released Friday by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). Full Story

Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo property seen as top buys in Asia-Pacific region

The China Post - Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo are regarded as the top three most promising Asia-Pacific cities for real estate investment, a report said Friday. Full Story

EVA Airways to cancel Taipei-Paris passenger flight service

The China Post - The Taipei-based EVA Airways Corp. said yesterday it will suspend Taipei-Paris passenger services from Nov. 23 due to increased fees for over-fly routes and rising operating costs. Full Story

Chicken price rises to lead more beef hikes

The China Post - Taiwan's consumers, who have been besieged with seemingly endless price increases in various commodities, are now also encountering a steep hike in the prices of imported food products like chicken and beef. Full Story

Far Eastone sees WiMax by early 2009

The China Post - Taiwan's second-largest telecoms carrier, Far Eastone Communications Co. Ltd., said Friday it plans to roll out commercial WiMax services by the end of 2008 or early 2009. Full Story

NT$ nears 9-month high on central bank, funds

The China Post - The Taiwan dollar strengthened to its highest level in nearly 9 months Friday, boosted by the central bank, foreign institutions and exporters selling U.S. dollars. Full Story

Taiwan central bank to ensure inflation stays steady

The China Post - Taiwan's central bank said Friday it will take appropriate measures to ensure that the island's inflation remains steady, a week after it raised interest rates to a six-year high. Full Story

Formosa Petro shuts No. 2 ethylene plant

The China Post - Formosa Petrochemical Corp., Taiwan's only publicly traded oil refiner, shut its No. 2 ethylene plant in Mailiao for maintenance on Sept. 26. Full Story

TPV shares surge most in four years on stake sale

The China Post - TPV Technologies Ltd., the world's largest contract maker of computer monitors, jumped the most in four years on the Hong Kong stock exchange after Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp. agreed to buy a stake in the company. Full Story

Winbond gets NT$5 billion loan to buy plant equipment

The China Post - Winbond Electronics Corp. said it agreed to borrow NT$5 billion (US$153 million) from eight domestic banks to help the Taiwanese chipmaker buy equipment for a new chip factory. Full Story

Sony buying HDTV chips from TSMC

The China Post - Consumer electronics giant Sony Corp. has started buying TV chips from Taiwan's TSMC and also aims to buy cellphone chips from the world's largest contract chip maker, industry sources said. Full Story

Taiwan's Innolux aims for 4th quarter GDR offering up to US$1.3 billion

The China Post - Taiwan's Innolux, the world's No. 2 maker of LCD monitors, aims to float as much as US$1.3 billion in global depositary receipts (GDRs) in the fourth quarter, a source familiar with the situation said yesterday. Full Story

Taiwan-China January-July trade up 14.3 percent

The China Post - Bilateral trade between Taiwan and China in the seven months to July rose 14.3 percent from the same period a year earlier to US$55.54 billion on increasing economic exchanges, Taiwan's Board of Foreign Trade said Friday. Full Story

Nokia Siemens wins Taiwan network deal

The China Post - Nokia Siemens Networks said Friday it had won an order from Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom for a 3G mobile network expansion, worth 61.5 million euros. Full Story

Poll: Stable jobs are top dreams of office singles

The China Post - Just over 71 percent of single office workers responding to a recent survey believe a good financial situation is crucial to leading a happy life and dream of holding a stable job and of saving over NT$10 million (US$303,950), according to survey results released yesterday. Full Story

Taiwan wind-power to be lifted 10-fold

The China Post - Taiwan may spend more than NT$100 billion (US$3 billion) during the next three years to increase wind-power capacity 10-fold and cut coal and gas imports. Full Story

Trans Asia offers cheap Taipei-Kaohsiung flight

The China Post - Domestic airlines are rushing to announce sharp price cuts for Taipei-Kaohsiung flight services to compete with the high speed railway system, with prices falling to around 50 percent of their original prices. Full Story

Investor sees 'new beginning' for Sino Swearingen

The China Post - Jet maker Sino Swearingen Aircraft Co. hopes to emerge from months of uncertainty by bringing on a new investor. Full Story

ITRI releases 233 patents for green energy

The China Post - The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has decided to release 233 patents in the fields of solar energy conversion, energy storage and energy saving solutions to local manufacturers, officials at the Hsinchu-based institute disclosed yesterday. Full Story

Chi Mei to pay HK$811.2 mil. for TPV holding

The China Post - Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp., Taiwan's second-largest liquid-crystal display maker, said it will pay about HK$811.2 million (US$104.6 million) for a stake in monitor maker TPV Technologies Ltd. as part of a supply alliance. Full Story

Foxconn shares gain on Motorola order rumor

The China Post - Foxconn International Holdings Ltd., the world's largest contract manufacturer of mobile phones, rose the most in 16 months in Hong Kong trading on speculation its customer Motorola Inc. is increasing parts orders.Full Story

Slowdown signs emerge for housing market

The China Post - Following four years of bullish development, Taiwan's housing market appears to be on the brink of slowing down, as reflected by some indicators issued by the government.Full Story

Seed-testing lab obtains ISTA re-accreditation

The China Post - The Seed Testing Laboratory (STL) under the Council of Agriculture (COA) has obtained a certificate of re-accreditation from the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) in recognition of its competence, a COA official said yesterday. Full Story

Benchmark index advances 1.7% following Wall St. gains

The China Post - Taiwan shares rose across the board on Thursday following overnight Wall Street gains. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange rose 156.18 points, or 1.7 percent, to close at day's high of 9,413.65 in heavy volume.Full Story

Tax revenue pie for local govts sharply expanded

The China Post - The Cabinet yesterday approved a set of draft revisions to the bill governing tax budget allocation, greatly expanding the tax revenue pie for local county and city governments by NT$100 billion to the level of NT$270-280 billion from the existing NT$180 billion. Full Story

World Bank: Singapore is most c-friendly

The China Post - For the second year in a row, Singapore was ranked the world's easiest place to do business, followed by New Zealand and the United States, the World Bank's annual "Doing Business" report said Wednesday. Full Story

United States Supreme Court to rule on LG technology patent case

The China Post - The Supreme Court said Tuesday it will consider a technology patent case that could have far-reaching ramifications for computer makers and other industries with global supply chains. Full Story

Locals may suffer 10% hike in commodities

The China Post - Locals will be affected by higher living costs next month, as prices for such daily commodities as flour, soy sauce and salad oil are poised to rise by over 10 percent to reflect international price hikes on raw agricultural materials such as wheat, soybean, and corn, according to market sources. Full Story

Motech Industries signs supply deal with Wacker Chemie

The China Post - Taiwan's Motech Industries said it had signed a 10-year silicon supply deal with Germany's Wacker Chemie AG, the world's second-largest maker of silicon for chips and solar cells, Motech said on Wednesday. Full Story

Asian firms do poorly on the environment

The China Post - Asian companies scored poorly on "clean and green" awareness, a group that promotes corporate governance in Asia said Wednesday. Full Story

Taiwan display makers gain on rising small panel prices

The China Post - AU Optronics Corp. and other liquid crystal display makers gained in Taipei share trading after prices of smaller panels rose for the first time in two years. Full Story

TSMC to pay US$30.5 million in damages to United States firm

The China Post - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), said yesterday a California court had ordered it to pay U.S.-based UniRAM Technology Inc. US$30.5 million over misuse of trade secrets. Full Story

HSBC to open Taiwan insurance operation

The China Post - HSBC Holdings, Europe's biggest bank, said Wednesday it will open an insurance business in Taiwan as it aims to tap into the fourth-biggest insurance market in Asia. Full Story

Chia Hsin Cement shares up on Credit Suisse report

The China Post - Chia Hsin Cement Corp. shares gained after Credit Suisse Group initiated coverage on Taiwan's fourth largest cement maker with an "outperform" rating. Full Story

Shares close up at 1.67 percent

The China Post - Taiwan share prices closed 1.67 percent higher Wednesday ahead of the expiry of futures contracts later in the week, dealers said. Full Story

India's Sensex rises above 17,000 for 1st time

The China Post - Most Asian markets rose Wednesday as Japanese stocks advanced modestly on higher finance shares. India's benchmark stock index crossed 17,000 for the first time Wednesday after zooming up 1,000 points in just six sessions since the U.S. Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate last week. Full Story

NSC to feature new technology at International Invention Show

The China Post - More than 360 examples of new technology will be displayed at the annual Taipei International Invention Show and Technomart, which will run from Sept. 27-30, the National Science Council (NSC) announced yesterday. Full Story

Sleeping woman left on Northwest Airlines plane

The China Post - A Taiwanese woman was too sleepy to realize that she was left behind in an empty cabin of a Northwest Airlines plane until her absent-minded boyfriend alerted authorities 30 minutes later, local news media reported yesterday. Full Story

TAIEX likely to rise after China holiday

The China Post - Foreign investors are expected to turn to Taiwan after the Mid-Autumn Festival, giving the sluggish stock market a stimulus needed to recover the shock of the American subprime crash. Full Story

Dollar pauses close to record low against steady euro

The China Post - The dollar hovered just above its record low against the euro in Asian trade on Tuesday as the market looked for clues on whether U.S. interest rates could fall further, dealers said. Full Story

CEPD: 35.9 percent of budget to go toward

The China Post - The government will allocate 35.9 percent of its next year's total public construction budget, or NT$143.9 billion, for petroleum and electricity facilities, economic officials said yesterday. Full Story

Hsinchu Science Park exports set record

The China Post - The Hsinchu Science Park set a single-month record for exports in August at NT$62.07 billion, thanks to a boom in the integrated circuit (IC) and optoelectronics sectors. Full Story

Double-digit export growth forecasted

The China Post - The Board of Foreign Trade (BOFT) said yesterday Taiwan's exports will register a double-digit growth in 2007, dismissing forecast by a local think tank saying the island's exports will only grow by 7.41 percent. Full Story

Taipei housing confidence at four-year low

The China Post - Taipei housing market confidence dropped to its lowest in almost four years because of rising prices, a Taiwan government-sponsored survey showed. Full Story

Local bourse seen to trend up in fourth quarter

The China Post - Institutional investors are expecting the Taiwan Stock Exchange to trend upward in the fourth quarter of the year, and are likely to zero in on high-tech shares, electronics stocks and China-concept issues after the Moon Festival falling on Sept. 25, according to market sources. Full Story

Taiwan software firms to tap Southeast Asian markets

The China Post - A software sector delegation, organized by the quasi-official Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), will undertake fact-finding visits to Vietnam and Thailand early next month to explore trade opportunities, a TAITRA official said yesterday. Full Story

Taiwan promoting agricultural products through online system

The China Post - Taiwan has been introducing a variety of agricultural products to foreign buyers via an online system at various international trade fairs, an official said yesterday. Full Story

OCAC seeks investment from overseas Taiwanese

The China Post - The Cabinet-level Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission (OCAC) is organizing a delegation of overseas Taiwanese businessmen to visit Taiwan to seek investment opportunities, an OCAC official said yesterday. Full Story

Telecom regulatory forum slated for October 3-4 in Taipei

The China Post - A telecommunications and broadcasting regulatory forum is scheduled to be held Oct. 3 to 4 at the National Central Library under the auspices of National Communications Commission (NCC) and the Taiwan Telecommunication Industry Development Association (TTIDA), an NCC official announced yesterday. Full Story

Taipei station to become solar power model

The China Post - The state-run Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) is planning to turn the Taipei Railway Station into a model of energy conservation by harnessing solar power. Full Story

Taipei investigation reveals detergent refill bag mark-up

The China Post - A Taipei City consumer protection officer yesterday demanded that liquid detergent refill bags that exceed the price of their bottled counterparts be taken off the market within a week. Full Story

No water, electricity price hikes, Cabinet official says

The China Post - The government will not raise water and electricity rates, despite skyrocketing oil prices, a Cabinet official said yesterday. Full Story

Banks start raising mortgage interest rates

The China Post - Bank SinoPac and Taishin International Bank took the lead to raise their interest rates for mortgage loans to reflect the higher capital cost after the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) -- CBC -- increased its benchmark interest rate for financial institutions starting yesterday. Full Story

NT$ at 1-month high on rate hike, exporter deals

The China Post - The Taiwan dollar strengthened to a one-month high yesterday after the Central Bank of China (CBC) raised interest rates and sold U.S. dollars, and on exporters' deals ahead of a long holiday weekend. Full Story

ROC jobless rate matches 9-month low of 3.87 percent

The China Post - Taiwan's jobless rate remained at 3.87 percent in August, matching a nine-month low, as manufacturers including AU Optronics Corp. hired workers to meet rising export demand. Full Story

Acer to go ahead with purchase of Packard Bell through Gateway

The China Post - Taiwanese computer vendor Acer will go ahead with the purchase of Paris-based PC maker Packard Bell through U.S. group Gateway which it recently bid for, Acer's president said Friday in Madrid. Full Story

Taiwan August export orders at record high

The China Post - Taiwan's export orders in August rose to a record high US$30.49 billion, compared with US$29.72 billion in July, the economics ministry said Friday. Full Story

Taiwan to sell NT$130 bil. of general, parks debt

The China Post - Taiwan's government plans to sell NT$100 billion (US$3 billion) of bonds to help fund spending in the fourth quarter, the Finance Ministry in Taipei said Friday in a statement on its Web site. Full Story

Formosa Plastics gains on speculation sales will rise

The China Post - Formosa Plastics Corp., the world's second-largest maker of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, rose to the highest in at least 15 years in Taipei trading on expectations sales will climb. Full Story

Powerchip invests further in Rexchip chip venture

The China Post - Powerchip Semiconductor Corp., Taiwan's largest memory-chip maker, will invest an extra NT$5 billion (US$152 million) in its venture with Elpida Memory Inc. Full Story