Taipei, March 1, 2026, 15:19 (GMT+8) — The market has closed.
- Taiwan comes back from its holiday to a global tech scene that’s gotten louder.
- Chip stocks and AI-related players still call the shots for the index.
- The early-week mood is expected to hinge more on U.S. data than on local news.
After a run-up of roughly 5.38% since Feb. 11, Taiwan’s main Taiex index closed at 35,414.49 ahead of Monday’s session. The Taiwan Stock Exchange pegged total listed market cap at 115.41 trillion Taiwan dollars.
Trading paused Friday for Peace Memorial Day, set to pick back up Monday.
The gap’s relevant now, with the Taiex capitalisation-weighted and larger stocks carrying heavier sway over moves. Taiwan’s market? Still ruled by the tech supply-chain giants.
The Taiex ended Thursday barely changed, edging up 1.42 points. Turnover hit NT$1.14 trillion for the day, according to CNA.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. pushed past the NT$2,000 level earlier, a move that got extra momentum from its U.S.-listed ADRs tracking higher in New York, dealers noted. Analyst Tom Tang at MasterLink Securities pointed to persistent optimism around the “current AI boom” as a driver. Foreign institutional investors ended up net buyers for the session, according to exchange data. Focus Taiwan – CNA English News
Overseas markets took a turn late last week. Global equities slipped Friday, investors once again eyeing high-flying tech names and possible fallout from AI. Brent crude finished 2.45% higher, with U.S.-Iran friction fanning those gains, according to Reuters. “Time for a breather” is how Talley Leger at The Wealth Consulting Group put it, pointing to semiconductors after their steep rally. Reuters
The U.S. schedule is front and center for Taipei right now. “There continues to be this … back and forth” over AI winners and victims, Kristina Hooper, chief market strategist at Man Group, told Reuters. Wall Street is bracing for more swings, with Broadcom’s results and key U.S. jobs data coming up. Reuters
Investors, eyeing more than just earnings, will be watching PMI surveys from top economies for early signals ahead of the payrolls data, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence’s week-ahead note.
The local risk, though, is more straightforward: following such a sharp rally, profit-taking tends to surface fast when trading resumes. Mega International Investment Services Vice President Huang Kuo-wei pointed to the rapid climb and cautioned that investors need to keep an eye out for short-term selling, especially as markets react to any Nvidia-driven headlines.
There’s also the currency angle. China’s central bank plans to eliminate the 20% reserve requirement for forex forward contracts as of March 2, according to Reuters. That adjustment will make it cheaper to buy dollars and may stir up FX trading across the region.
Friday jumps out on the calendar: the U.S. Employment Situation report for February lands March 6, according to the U.S. Labor Department.
