August 11, 2025 – Taipei, Taiwan
Taiwan’s stock and currency markets moved in opposite directions today, with the benchmark index rallying while the New Taiwan dollar lost ground for the second straight session.
The Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index advanced 114.24 points to close at 24,135.50, buoyed by strong performances in heavyweight stocks. TSMC (2330), which opened lower, surged to an intraday high of NT$1,195 — a new all-time record — before ending at NT$1,180. Gains in other blue-chip shares also helped turn the market from early losses to solid gains.
In contrast, the New Taiwan dollar opened at 29.88 against the U.S. dollar and steadily weakened throughout the session, touching an intraday low of 29.918 before closing at 29.916, down 0.061 yuan from the previous day. The day’s combined turnover in the Taipei and E Ink foreign exchange markets reached US$1.1125 billion.
Forex traders attributed the currency’s decline to caution ahead of expected U.S. Section 232 semiconductor tariffs, which could have a significant impact on Taiwan’s tech sector. The market is also closely watching upcoming U.S. inflation data and its potential influence on an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Coupled with weak U.S. employment figures, traders are adopting a wait-and-see stance, resulting in reduced trading volumes and mixed foreign investor flows.
Central bank data showed the U.S. dollar index edged up 0.11% today. Other major currencies posted minimal changes: the Chinese yuan rose 0.01%, the Korean won fell 0.02%, the Japanese yen slipped 0.05%, and the New Taiwan dollar weakened 0.2%. Analysts noted that the international forex market is currently in a consolidation phase.
