Taiwan stocks fell 0.3 percent on Thursday as market sentiment was hit after the island's export-driven economy posted lower-than-expected growth in the third quarter. Tech exporters including UMC and AU Optronics led the decline, falling 3 percent and 1.1 percent respectively. The world's No.3 contract chipmaker and the world's No.4 flat panel maker warned of a slowing fourth quarter.
At about one an half and hours into trade, the main TAIEX index had slipped to 8,443.38 points, retreating from a more-than-26 month closing high on Wednesday.
Shares in Hon Hai Precision, the world's largest electronics assembler, were down 0.3 percent. Hon Hai was among the six companies that won fourth-generation mobile spectrum licenses.
The Taiwan dollar was up 0.261 percent to stand at T$29.398 to the US dollar.