Uni-President Chairman: Stock Market Too Exciting, No Time for Consumption

Uni-President Chairman Lo Chih-hsien stated on the 28th that with the stock market reaching 40,000 points, there is a gap between the market boom and domestic consumption. He observed that people are not spending their earnings on consumption, as funds are concentrated in stocks, mortgages, car loans, and margin financing. Regarding the strong performance of Uni-President Asset Management, he described it as 'sharpening a sword for 30 years,' emphasizing that it is the result of long-term accumulation of strength. He explained that last year's decline in profits was due to factors such as rising raw material costs and one-time expenses from the rebranding of Carrefour. Despite currency fluctuations affecting overseas markets, he is optimistic about this year's performance following a strong first quarter.