Taiwan stocks rose 0.7 percent in their biggest percentage gains in three weeks on Thursday, with travel sector issues such as Regent Taipei leading the way on hopes for rising numbers of China tourists. Smartphone maker HTC was the most active issue by turnover, jumping 3 percent. HTC's chief executive said the company plans to launch handsets based on Microsoft's new Mango Windows phone operating system.
Tourism was the top winning sector, up 3.28 percent. It was boosted by a 5.8 percent surge of shares of Regent Taipei, among the major hotel chain operators expected to benefit most as Taiwan and China prepare to allow individual mainland tourists to the island in coming weeks. The main TAIEX index closed up 61.31 points or 0.7 percent at 8,788.4, its best one-day percentage rally since early May.