Taiwan stocks fell 0.21 percent to end at a fresh one-month low on Friday, as investors sold technology shares such as TSMC on concerns over weaker a outlook in the fourth quarter. The main TAIEX share index ended down 15.61 points to 7,340.08, wrapping up the week with a 4.08 percent fall and reaching its lowest level since September 28.
Concerns over a weaker fourth quarter prompted investors to book profit in TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, which gave up early gains to end 0.5 percent lower. Turnover was thin at T$101 billion ($3.1 billion), compared with Thursday's T$145 billion and the daily average of T$112 billion this week.
Chip designer Mediatek, the second-most active stock by turnover, dropped 1.38 percent. Taiwan stocks fell to their lowest closing level in one month and logged their worst single day percentage fall in 3-1/2 months on Thursday after foreign investors unloaded a net T$22 billion ($677 million) of Taiwan stocks, the biggest net sale in more than one year.
The main index gave up early gains on concerns that the positive GDP data from the United States may not be enough to sustain future economic growth, some analysts said. PC shares outperformed the main board as investors bet on increasing demand in the fast approaching holiday season in North America. Compal Electronics and netbook PC pioneer Asustek rose 3.9 percent and 2.01 percent, respectively, after both said they expected shipments to climb about 10 percent in the fourth quarter. The computer and peripheral equipment sub-index finished up 1.13 percent.
LCD shares such as AU Optronics traded flat after larger rival Samsung Electronics cautioned against a profit decline in the current three months. But small LCD panel maker Hannstar Display jumped more than 6 percent after a local newspaper reported that it had returned to profitability in the third quarter, and expected utilisation rates to remain at 100 percent.
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