Taiwan stocks closed lower for the first time in seven sessions on Tuesday as investors pocketed recent gains in electronics shares like AU Optronics that had been inspired by expectations of better earnings.
The main TAIEX gave up early rise to end down 0.71 percent at 6,635.54, interrupting a nine-percent advance over the past six sessions that recouped almost all the ground it lost after the disputed presidential election.
"Cautious investors retreated to the sidelines and cashed in on recent sharp gains," said More Huang, manager of the T$1 billion Stable Yield Fund at UBS Asset Management. Turnover was modest at T$160.0 billion, but up from T$150.8 billion on Monday.
The tech sub-index dropped 0.80 percent as AU, the world's third-largest display screen maker, fell 4.58 percent to T$62.50 and smaller rival Chunghwa Picture Tubes was off 4.37 percent at T$21.90.
China Development was another bright spot, jumping 0.52 percent to T$19.50, after months of fighting for control over the island's largest venture capital firm came to an end.
The over-the-counter TAISDAQ index inched down 0.05 percent to 152.85, while April TAIEX index futures lost 0.48 percent to 6,660.