TSMC, the world's biggest contract chip maker, posted a second consecutive fall in quarterly profit on Thursday, matching forecasts, in part due to a decline in demand for notebook PCs. The company said in a statement that it saw no impact from Japan's earthquake in March on its supply chain or client demand.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), which supplies chips to clients including Texas Instruments and Nvidia, reported a net profit of T$36.3 billion ($1.26 billion) in January-March.
That compared with T$33.66 billion a year ago and T$40.72 billion in the fourth quarter. TSMC was expected to earn T$36.6 billion in the first quarter, according to the average estimate of 14 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
TSMC and cross-town smaller rival UMC are battling tepid demand for notebooks.
TSMC shares have gained over 3 percent so far this year versus a 1 percent rise in the Taiwan market. UMC shares have lost about 6 percent in the same period.