TAIPEI: The Taiwan stock market on Wednesday ended the two-day winning streak in which it had advanced more than 160 points or 1.4 percent. The Taiwan Stock Exchange now rests just above the 10,865-point plateau, and the losses may accelerate on Thursday.
The global forecast for the Asian markets is uninspired as tech shares figure to see continued selling pressure, and a drop in crude oil prices adds to the soft sentiment. The European markets were mixed, and the U.S. bourses were down and the Asian markets figure to split the difference.
The TSE finished sharply lower on Wednesday following losses from the financial, technology and steel sectors. Among the actives, Cathay Financial retreated 1.50 percent, while Fubon Financial lost 0.79 percent, Mega Financial slid 1.38 percent, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company skidded 2.39 percent, United Microelectronics Corporation gave away 0.96 percent, Largan Precision dropped 1.61 percent, Hon Hai Precision shed 1.21 percent, Innolux was unchanged, China Steel dipped 0.64 percent and Taiwan Steel Union tumbled 1.53 percent.