Taiwan stocks fell 0.93 percent in their worst one-day percentage fall in two weeks on Monday, with AU Optronics and other tech exporters lower, as investors worried over the lack of progress in US government debt talks. Some investors were worried the issue could trigger a default, which would be the worst scenario. The benchmark TAIEX index ended 81.81 points or 0.93 percent lower at 8,683.51, its biggest one-day percentage fall since July 12.
Among the biggest losing sectors, department stores and construction sharse were down 4.6 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively. Financials slipped 1.22 percent. Electronics shed 0.87 percent, with AU, the world's No 3 flat panel maker, losing 1.97 percent. Acer, the world's No 2 PC vendor, dropped 4.69 percent. China Steel, Taiwan's biggest steel maker, fell 1.8 percent. Media reported that the company had invested T$10 billion ($345 million) for a stake in a Malaysian steel maker. China Steel said in a statement that it is still evaluating the investment.