TAIPEI, Taiwan (October 16, 2025)— Taiwan’s stock market surged on Wednesday as investors positioned themselves ahead of TSMC’s highly anticipated earnings conference scheduled for Thursday, driving the benchmark TAIEX to a strong finish above the 27,000-point mark.
The Taiwan Capitalization Weighted Stock Index (TAIEX) rose 482.56 points, closing at 27,275.71, with total market turnover reaching NT$500 billion (US$16.3 billion), according to reports from CNA and CTEE.
Tech Giants Lead Market Gains
Investor optimism centered on semiconductor and tech-related shares. TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.) climbed 2.81% to NT$1,465, setting a new record high, while MediaTek added 0.77% to NT$1,315, Foxconn edged up 0.24% to NT$206.5, and Delta Electronics advanced 2.32% to NT$1,015.
High-value stocks also attracted strong buying interest. Aspeed Technology, currently the most expensive stock on the TAIEX, rose 4.07% to NT$5,500. Meanwhile, Mpi reached its daily trading limit at NT$1,910, and Wiwynn along with Jentech Precision Industrial both gained over 8%. Voltronic Power Technology and Ableprint Technology rebounded above the NT$1,000 mark.
ABF Substrate Makers Extend Gains
Manufacturers of Ajinomoto Build-up Film (ABF) substrates continued their upward momentum, supported by expectations of a stronger second-half performance. Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board and Kinsus Interconnect Technology both hit the daily limit, while Unimicron Technology surged 8.56%.
ABF, developed by Japan’s Ajinomoto, is a heat-curing epoxy film used in advanced chip packaging that enables multiple circuit layers to be stacked in compact designs.
Shipping Stocks Retreat After Policy Adjustment
After rallying earlier in the week on news of reciprocal port fees between China and the US, shipping shares retreated following China’s decision to exempt US-owned, Chinese-built vessels from port charges.
Evergreen Marine fell 2.65%, Yang Ming Marine Transport slid 6.17%, and Wan Hai Lines dropped 3.94%, with other bulk shipping firms also ending lower.
Memory Stocks and Market Sentiment
Memory module maker Apacer Technology hit the daily limit at NT$102.5, with more than 25,000 buy orders unfilled at the close. The stock has now risen for eight consecutive sessions, gaining over 44% in that period.
Analyst Outlook and Global Context
Market sentiment was further supported by comments from US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who reiterated that US job growth is slowing but offered no clear timeline on future rate cuts.
Taishin Securities Investment Advisory Vice President Huang Wen-ching (黃文清) said Powell’s remarks suggest a cautious approach and that rate cuts later this year remain possible — a factor that could help sustain global market liquidity.
Huang added that Tuesday’s short-term market pullback was likely an overreaction rather than the start of a downtrend. He said Taiwan’s medium- to long-term fundamentals remain strong, though traders should watch for volume-price fluctuations in the near term.
Looking ahead, all eyes are on TSMC’s earnings results and guidance, which could influence market momentum in the coming days. Huang also pointed to recent alliances among tech giants, such as Oracle partnering with AMD, noting that Taiwan’s central role in the global AI hardware supply chain remains a key strength for local equities.