TAIEX closes 0.65% lower at 44,920.14 as AI concerns persist
Published on 11/02/2026 at 13:39 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSTAIEX recovers from sharp intraday drop
- The Taiwan Weighted Index closed at 44,920.14 on November 2, 2026, down 291.69 points or 0.65 percent.
- The index fell as much as 812.73 points before bargain buying narrowed the loss.
- Technology shares remained under pressure, while MediaTek, Hon Hai and petrochemical stocks provided support.
- Investors also monitored uncertainty surrounding heavy AI infrastructure spending and the US midterm elections.
The Taiwan Weighted Index ended Monday's session lower after a volatile trading day in Taipei. The benchmark closed at 44,920.14 points, down 291.69 points or 0.65 percent from the previous session. The close was reported by Focus Taiwan, citing the Central News Agency.
Early selling gives way to recovery
The index opened at 45,034.53 and fell to an intraday low of 44,399.10, a decline of 812.73 points from the previous close. It later reached 45,156.17 as investors bought selected laggards. Turnover totaled NT$758.88 billion, below the NT$939.61 billion recorded on Friday.
Focus Taiwan said dealers linked the early pressure to Friday's decline on Wall Street, including a 2.86 percent fall in the Nasdaq and a 7.20 percent drop in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index. The market was also dealing with renewed concerns about whether heavy investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure will generate sufficient returns for major cloud-service providers.
TSMC weighs on the benchmark
Large technology stocks delivered a mixed performance. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. fell 1.69 percent to NT$2,330, adding pressure to the index after its US-listed depositary receipts had dropped sharply in the previous US session. By contrast, MediaTek rose 1.40 percent to NT$3,970 and Hon Hai Precision Industry gained 2.24 percent to NT$251. Delta Electronics advanced 1.50 percent to NT$1,355.
Petrochemical shares also helped cushion the decline after crude oil prices rose. Formosa Petrochemical gained 4.78 percent, while Nan Ya Plastics, Formosa Plastics and Formosa Chemicals & Fibre also finished higher. Financial stocks were weaker, with Fubon Financial down 1.24 percent and CTBC Financial falling 1.06 percent.
Foreign selling and election uncertainty
According to the Focus Taiwan report, foreign institutional investors sold a net NT$73.52 billion of shares on the main board. A Hua Nan Securities analyst said the weaker Taiwan dollar suggested that some buying in large technology stocks may have come from government-led funds rather than foreign investors.
Market participants also remained cautious ahead of the US midterm elections scheduled for Tuesday. The National Development Council minister separately said AI-related volatility should have only a temporary impact on Taiwan's hardware suppliers, pointing to continuing export orders and financing conditions. The next market focus will be whether technology shares stabilize after the sharp correction and whether bargain buying broadens beyond a small group of laggards.
More coverage of the Taiwan Weighted Index.
