Taiwan stocks flat; currency worries hit techs

Taiwan stocks ended flat on Monday as sharp gains in the local currency led investors to cash out of big tech exporters like AU Optronics that had led the 4.86-percent rally over the last four sessions. Gains in industrial shares and banking stocks helped to keep the market steady after the Taiwan dollar jumped to its highest level against the US dollar in nearly seven months in morning trade.
The TAIEX share index still managed a 0.10 percent gain to close at 5,937.46, but was still facing tough resistance on the technical charts at 6,000 points.
"The rise in the Taiwan dollar hit electronics shares harder while it is more advantageous to domestic demand shares," said Daniel Tseng, manager of Fubon Securities institutional investor department.
Turnover eased as investors waited on the sidelines, shrinking to T$63.6 billion from a busy T$98.22 billion in Friday's session. Analysts said consolidation around current levels could dominate the market in coming sessions.
Electronics shares were the heaviest decliners, with AU Optronics, the world's third largest display panel maker, losing 2.7 percent to T$36.0, while United Microelectronics Corp fell 0.94 percent to T$21.0.
Tech shares rallied last week as foreign fund managers snapped up tech sector blue chips ahead of Morgan Stanley Capital International's move to hike Taiwan's weighting in its closely-tracked indices on November 30. The market's bluest blue chip, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, defied the electronics sector's losses to end 0.42 percent higher to T$47.9 as foreign investors continued their buying spree.
Industrial shares, which had been battered by China's surprise interest rate cut last month, took advantage of the tech sector's stumble to retake some ground.
China Steel, cushioned currency gains against the US dollar as its sales are mostly powered by domestic and China demand, powered 2.04 percent higher to close at T$35.00.
Small banks seen as likely take-over targets also rose in active trade as the government encourages mergers and acquisitions to consolidate the crowded financial industry.
Taiwan Business Bank was the day's most heavily traded issue after 163 million shares changed hands and rose T$0.15, or 1.15 percent, to close at T$13.15.
The over-the-counter market's TAISDAQ index lost 0.80 point, or 0.72 percent, to close at 1110.16, while November TAIEX futures were little changed with a loss of 11 points, or 0.19 percent, to 5,909.