Foreign Selling Narrows to NT$60.84 Billion, Shedding Semiconductor Stocks; Futures Short Positions Drop 7,852 Contracts Below 80,000

Taiwan's stock market fluctuated over 1,100 points today, ending 221.57 points lower at 42,449.7 points. Foreign investors sold for the 12th consecutive day, but their net selling shrank to NT$60.84 billion. Taiwan's stock futures saw a significant reduction in short positions, with 7,852 contracts fewer, bringing the open short interest down to 78,337 contracts—the first time it has fallen below 80,000 since July. Investment trusts continued to support the market, buying NT$146.49 billion worth of stocks, marking their 19th consecutive day of net buying, totaling NT$2,025 billion. Meanwhile, foreign and investment trusts adjusted their positions in mature process semiconductor stocks, with foreign investors selling shares of Powerchip Semiconductor and investment trusts selling shares of United Microelectronics and World Semiconductor.

Foreign investors' top 10 net sales included many financial holding companies, such as Tai Shin International Bank (63,200 shares), E.Sun Financial Holding (21,000 shares), Huanan Financial Holding (15,800 shares), and First Financial Holding (13,200 shares). In contrast, investment trusts bought 54,300, 12,100, 12,700, and 10,300 shares respectively, showing a contrast. Additionally, EVA Airways received a net buy of 13,300 shares from foreign investors but a net sell of 6,458 shares from investment trusts.

Foreign investors and investment trusts also adjusted their positions in mature process semiconductor stocks. Foreign investors sold 24,400 shares of Powerchip Semiconductor, while investment trusts sold 13,500 shares of United Microelectronics and 5,514 shares of World Semiconductor. On the other hand, they took opposite positions on TSMC, the semiconductor manufacturing leader, with foreign investors selling 1,672 shares and investment trusts buying 1,047 shares.

Investment trusts' top 10 net buys included Chang Hwa Bank (9,803 shares), Sinopac Financial Holding (7,357 shares), Mega International Commercial Bank (6,763 shares), Uni-President China Holdings (6,533 shares), China Trust Financial Holding (6,340 shares), and EVA Airways (6,164 shares). Meanwhile, their top 10 net sales included Cathay Securities Investment Trust (5,018 shares), Inventec (3,993 shares), Acer (3,817 shares), Ching Fu (3,163 shares), Pau Tai (3,092 shares), Cathay Financial Holding (2,506 shares), and Pegasus (2,491 shares).

Foreign investors' top net buys included Innolux (34,700 shares), AU Optronics (16,500 shares), E.Sun Commercial Bank (24,100 shares), Yuanta/P-TSEC Taiwan Top 50 Index ETF (20,900 shares), Cathay PE Ratio Weighted Taiwan 50 Index ETF (17,400 shares), Yuanta/P-TSEC Taiwan 50 Index ETF (14,600 shares), Cathay ESG Taiwan 20+ Index ETF (14,400 shares), and Cathay Taiwan Top Index ETF (11,500 shares).

Foreign investors' top net sales included Taiwan Enterprise Bank (14,900 shares), Yuanta Financial Holding (14,000 shares), Yuanta/P-TSEC Taiwan 50 Index ETF (97,400 shares), Yuanta/P-TSEC Taiwan 50 Index ETF (65,200 shares), Yuanta Dividend Plus ETF (23,200 shares), and Fubon Taiwan Technology High Dividend Yield ETF (11,600 shares).