TAIPEI, Jan 18, 2026, 06:30 (GMT+8) — Market closed
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s shares jumped 2.96%, closing at a peak of NT$1,740 on Friday. This surge helped push Taiwan’s Taiex index to a record high. “These figures simply told investors AI demand is robust,” said Alex Huang of Mega International Investment Services, noting the company’s forecast of nearly 30% sales growth for 2026 and a capex plan reaching $56 billion for factories and equipment. (Focus Taiwan – CNA English News)
This move carries weight far beyond Taipei as investors try to figure out how chip manufacturing is shifting globally. Washington and Taipei signed a trade deal that includes $250 billion in Taiwanese investments in the U.S. Reuters reported TSMC has already snapped up a second piece of land in Arizona, ramping up a U.S. expansion now valued at $165 billion. Customers like Apple, Nvidia, AMD, and Qualcomm are lined up for the Arizona plant, Reuters added. (Reuters)
TSMC’s forecast frequently serves as a barometer for demand in advanced AI chips, given its pivotal role in the supply chain. Following a rapid surge, the key issue now is whether buyers will continue pushing forward or hold back until fresh data arrives.
Morgan Stanley boosted its price target on TSMC by 5% to NT$2,088, maintaining the stock as a top pick. The bank pointed to improved margin clarity following the quarterly report. “Chip supply, not power availability, remains the main bottleneck,” analysts led by Charlie Chan noted in their research. (Investing)
TSMC’s U.S.-listed American depositary receipts (ADRs)—which track its shares in Taipei—last traded at $342.40, edging up roughly 0.2% from the previous close. These ADRs serve as the primary real-time indicator for offshore investors when Taiwan’s market is closed on weekends.
Some investors are tuning out headline growth and zeroing in on execution. A surge in capex can squeeze free cash flow, while expanding capacity in the U.S. often brings higher costs and unpredictable timelines.
Traders are now waiting to see if Friday’s surge holds up when Taiwan’s market reopens, and if the upcoming wave of broker reports continues to attract foreign investment in the stock.
Taiwan’s market kicks back into action on Monday, Jan. 19, following the weekend pause. The Taiwan Stock Exchange operates from 9:00 a.m. to 1:25 p.m. local time. Over in the U.S., stock and bond markets remain shut Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, reopening Tuesday, Jan. 20 — the next key moment for TSMC’s ADRs. (TradingHours)
