Taiex surges on cooling US inflation data, AI stocks red hot

Taiex surges on cooling US inflation data, AI stocks red hot

2023-07-13

U.S. markets soared on Wednesday as consumer price data came in lower than expected, raising hopes that inflation could be at its end. Taiwan stocks followed Wall Street higher on Thursday, surging by more than 200 points at one point. The Taiex ended the session nearly 100 points higher, at 17,061.

Winson Wang
Analyst
Even if the interest rate is raised again in July, it will likely be for the last time. Because technology stocks are more sensitive to interest rates, today’s surge was actually led by tech stocks. I want to point out that with regard to growth potential, AI stocks are offering the most room for the imagination.

In Thursday’s rally, chipmaker TSMC gained NT$7 to end at NT$585, contributing 57 points to the broader market. Largan Precision moved up NT$45, cementing its place as the most expensive stock. AI concept stocks like Wistron and MiTAC Holdings rose to the upper trading limit. Gogolook, the developer of caller ID software Whoscall, made a strong debut on the emerging stock market, hitting limit-up to close at NT$236.5.

美通膨降溫激勵台股價量齊揚 AI概念股持續火熱

2023-07-13

美國6月消費者物價指數，年增3%，創近2年多新低，專家普遍認為，這是進入通膨尾聲的訊號，激勵美股全面收紅，也讓台股週四價量齊揚，盤中一度大漲超過2百點，最後指數收在17061點，上漲99點，收復月線。

[[分析師王榮旭]]
“七月份即使再升息，恐怕也是升息的一個尾聲。因為科技股對於利率是比較敏感的，今天其實就是由科技股領軍上漲，那特別就是說對於未來成長空間，最具有想像力的是在AI的一個族群。”

週四台股強勢反彈，權王台積電收盤上漲7元，收在585元，最後貢獻大盤57點；大立光法說會上，宣布將為蘋果新機備貨好消息，盤價上漲45元，穩坐股王寶座。盤中多檔AI概念股維持大漲態勢，包含緯創、神達都再度漲停。陌生來電辨識軟體Whoscall開發商Gogolook創新板掛牌上市，股價開盤漲停鎖死，大漲21.5元，維持在236.5元。

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Paraguay president-elect visits EV bus factory, voices confidence in bilateral ties

Paraguay President-elect Santiago Pena is on his third day in Taiwan, and he spent the afternoon at an electric bus factory. Pena is looking to bring Taiwan’s EV technology to his country to support the economy. During his tour on Thursday, Pena tested out an EV bus, both as a passenger and a driver. He emphasized that he was “very confident” in Paraguay’s relations with Taiwan, despite Chinese pressure.

Perched in the driver’s seat of an electric bus, Paraguay’s president-to-be honks and gives a thumbs up.

Then he rides as a passenger as he listens to a presentation. Paraguay’s Santiago Pena is on his third day in Taiwan. On Thursday afternoon, he visited an electric bus factory in New Taipei’s Wugu District. One bus displayed the flags of Taiwan and Paraguay on a window.

Weng You-chi
FTV reporter
Taiwan and Paraguay’s national flags are both red, white and blue. So the electric buses and coaches on display both have these three colors.

Santiago Pena
Paraguayan president-elect
We’re also looking forward to more Taiwanese investment in Paraguay and we are not only maintaining a good diplomatic relation, but we are sure that there are very good business and economic opportunities between Paraguay and Taiwan.

Speaking on his upcoming term, Pena said he came to Taiwan not only to meet government officials but also to connect with business leaders. He said he wants to bring Taiwan’s mature EV technology to Paraguay to support national development.

Wu Chung-hsi
EV manufacturer CEO
This would absolutely be a long-term cooperative relationship that would deepen the friendship between the two countries. I think long-term industrial cooperation is the best way to promote diplomatic cooperation.

The automaker was optimistic about bilateral cooperation, saying commercial ties would benefit diplomacy. Pena spoke on the strength of Taiwan-Paraguay relations even under China’s pressure.

Santiago Pena
Paraguayan president-elect
I am very confident, very confident. Yes I have no doubt. They will keep pressuring and we will keep maintaining our relation with Taiwan.

Pena said he was quote, very confident. The statement and his visit signal his resolve to stand behind Taiwan.

2023-07-13

Ma gets green light to host Chinese students in Taiwan

Former President Ma Ying-jeou has gotten the green light to host Chinese students in Taiwan this month. A committee of immigration, education, and Chinese affairs officials approved Ma’s proposal earlier this week. But one day after approval, Ma’s office sent a request to invite three more people – faculty members of Peking University. Government sources say the request is unlikely to be approved. When asked about the matter, Ma’s office said it had not received a response from the government, and could not understand why the request would be denied.

Former President Ma Ying-jeou plans to host Chinese students in Taiwan this month. But after his exchange program was approved by Taiwan’s government, his office tried to invite three more people. The request has reportedly been denied by the Ministry of Education.

According to Ma’s initial application, the exchange will last from July 15 to 23, and will be for students and faculty from five Chinese universities. The application was reviewed by a committee comprising the National Immigration Agency, education ministry, and Mainland Affairs Council, which gave the green light on July 11. But on July 12, Ma’s office filed additional paperwork, requesting the inclusion of three faculty members. They are Li Yun, director of Office of Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan Affairs at Peking University; office deputy director Zhou Jing, and one associate researcher. According to a government source, the review committee will not accept additional requests at this point, so it’s unlikely that the three faculty will be approved.

Voice of Hsiao Hsu-tsen
Ma Ying-jeou Foundation director
I haven’t received a response yet, so they’re choosing to communicate their decision through a leak. They should stop resorting to this anti-Chinese, Red Scare method of communication.

Most of the visiting students are members of the Communist Youth League. It’s rumored that China wished to send three additional faculty to monitor the students’ activities in Taiwan.

Voice of Hsiao Hsu-tsen
Ma Ying-jeou Foundation director
I think what happened is, the Tsai administration had initially said it would not approve our application. But now that the application is approved, the party we’re working with in China is feeling cautious, and it hopes to add three staff members. This request should be handled separately from our initial application. Taiwan’s government should not deny the request by pointing to precedent.

Sources say the group will be led by Hao Ping, secretary-general of Peking University’s Communist Party committee. The 37 visitors hail from five schools including Peking and Tsinghua universities. They will spend nine days in Taiwan, with stops at National Taiwan University and National Chengchi University. They’ll also visit popular attractions including Sun Moon Lake, Dadaocheng, Taroko, and Jiufen.

Although it looks like a standard cross-strait exchange, it falls at a sensitive time given the upcoming elections.

2023-07-13

Lawmaker warns on traveling to Hong Kong

2023-07-13

Lawmaker calls Terry Gou ‘spoiled child’ for complaining about military drills

Hon Hai founder Terry Gou is under fire for complaining about the Han Kuang rehearsals now underway. During a visit to Taitung, Gou said his private jet would not be allowed to stay overnight at the local airport, due to ongoing military rehearsals. A DPP lawmaker derided Gou as a, quote, “spoiled child,” calling him ignorant about national defense. Meanwhile, the KMT’s presidential candidate reiterated that it was critical for Taiwan to improve its self-defense capabilities.

Hon Hai founder Terry Gou made a blunder in Taitung, describing the county as where “Cape No. 7” was filmed. After a self-deprecating laugh, Gou spoke about local tourism with a group of young entrepreneurs.

Terry Gou
Hon Hai founder
When I came to Taitung four years ago, I thought it felt a lot like Bali. And Pingtung felt a lot like Hawaii. Bali and Hawaii are two places Japanese people want to travel to the most. I flew in from Taipei today, and I’m sorry to say my plane won’t be able to spend the night here. There are military drills happening at Taitung Airport. They told me I’d have to go back to Taipei. That’s a reminder on the importance of peace.

Hou Yu-ih
KMT presidential candidate
For our country’s security, improving our self-defense capabilities is a must. If our country has self-defense capabilities, we can protect our country.

KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih underscored the importance of self-defense for Taiwan. Meanwhile, the DPP decried Gou’s complaint that the drills affected his private jet’s schedule.

Chuang Jui-hsiung
DPP lawmaker
In June, 25 countries led by the U.S. participated in NATO’s Air Defender 23 exercise. In July, Germany and Australia will hold the Exercise Talisman Sabre. This is our first time using civilian airports for the Han Kuang exercises. It was just a rehearsal. But Terry Gou thinks that it’s a bother that his plane couldn’t stay the night due to the drills. This kind of small-mindedness – I don’t think we need to comment any further about that.

Wang Ting-yu
DPP lawmaker
He criticized our nation’s military drills because they interfered with his plans to have the plane stay overnight. It shows his ignorance of national defense. He’s like a spoiled child.

DPP lawmaker Wang Ting-yu accused Gou of ignorance regarding national security. He said that in 2019, Gou declared that Taiwan shouldn’t buy arms from the U.S., as having arms could prompt attacks from others. Amid speculation that Gou still has presidential ambitions, his every word is under deep scrutiny.

2023-07-13

Executive Yuan passes preferential mortgage program aimed at young buyers

2023-07-13

Taipei Metro to install emergency stop buttons on 24 stations along Brown Line

The Taipei MRT plans to install emergency stop buttons at 24 stations on the Brown Line as a safety measure. The move is in response to this May’s deadly accident on the Taichung Metro, in which a train crashed into a construction crane. Once all the buttons are installed, anyone who sees an emergency can quickly stop a train in its tracks. Misuse is punishable with a fine of NT$50,000.

Back in May, a crane boom fell on the Taichung Metro, resulting in a crash that killed one person and injured 10 others. To prevent similar incidents, the Taipei Metro will install emergency stop buttons on platforms along the Brown Line.

Wang Fu-min
FTV reporter
So that people to respond faster to emergencies like an object on the tracks, there will be no need to notify station staff – you can press the button immediately to stop the train.

Pressing the button will stop departing trains, as long as they have not fully left the platform. And it will also stop stationary trains, trains entering the platform, and approaching trains. The button overrides the platform gates’ safety checks, preventing trains from entering and leaving the station. But passengers say they’re not sure if they’d dare to press it.

Member of public
I think most people would be afraid to press it. Perhaps if the button isn’t too obvious, you might think you’ve misunderstood what it’s for. They should do some public education about this, because I wouldn’t even have known that they have these buttons now.

The emergency stop button was installed on Nanjing Fuxing Station on Wednesday and can be found on the platform gates at the height of Car 1 and Car 4. The metro hopes to install buttons at 24 Brown Line stations by year’s end. The buttons have a plastic cover with a notice warning that misuse can incur a fine of NT$50,000. The measure is reportedly also being considered for New Taipei’s Yellow Line.

Chen Chih-hui
Taipei Metro
Whether it’s the Yellow Line or the Taichung Metro, we are all in the same industry. So there’s a lot of communication among us. My understanding is that they will also make improvements.

The Taipei Metro is also trialing ways to increase train capacity at peak hours. In June, it removed all seats from two cars on three trains, leaving just priority seating. Reports say Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an considers the trial successful and hopes to increase the number of trains with the layout. But there’s opposition from councilors across party lines, who say that removing seats treats the symptoms and not the root of the problem.

Member of public
For example, you might have a leg injury, or you’re carrying a lot of things, or you have to ride for some time. So I think seats are necessary.

Taipei Metro says it will reassess the plan after the start of the school year. It says a final plan will not be drafted until after October.

2023-07-13

Work experience for students at Taichung School for the visually impaired

2023-07-13

Standing on one leg for 10 seconds touted as new mortality prognostic

How often do you stand on one leg? Well, scholars say it could be a new way to take your metaphorical temperature. A new study claims that a person’s risk of mortality is greatly increased if they can’t stay standing on one leg for 10 seconds. Doubtful as the link may seem, doctors agree it’s a reasonable prognostic. Standing on one leg requires a wide range of physical capacities, making it a simple indicator of general fitness. But if 10 seconds is a bit tough right now, not to worry. You can practice by holding the wall to start with, and gradually work your way up.

In a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, participants aged 51-75 were asked to stand on one leg for 10 seconds. In total, 1,354 people completed the task, while 348 could not. The researchers then looked at the mortality rates of both groups after seven years. The mortality rate of those who could stand on one leg was 4.6%, but it was 17.5% for those who could not – a percentage more than four times as large.

Many people we spoke to were unconvinced of a strong link between standing on one leg and mortality. But physiotherapist Chen Hsiao-chien says it makes sense - and age needn’t be a factor. He says you can be aging and healthy, but you’re in bad shape if you spend all day sedentary, relying on your family to bring you meals, and losing muscle stamina and cardiovascular functions – no matter how old you are.

Doctors say that your health is in decline if you can’t stand on one leg for 10 seconds – even in older age.

Lin Yung-zen
Grassroots Medical Association
It may well reveal that the person has some chronic disease, such as diabetes. Of course, then the mortality rate after seven years would be higher than someone who can stand on one leg for 10 seconds.

Han Cheng-chih
Fitness coach
It needs your muscle strength, stamina and coordination. Hold the wall, and then gradually extend the length of time.

This fitness coach says that you can develop the skill using assistive props like a wall. Then gradually work your way up to 10 seconds. However long you can hold it to start with, why not give it a try, and challenge yourself to practice every day.

2023-07-13

New indoor roller skating rink opens in Taipei

Disco nights at roller rinks were a popular entertainment activity in the 1970s and ’80s. If it’s been a while since you last roller skated, you’re in luck. A new indoor roller skating rink has opened in Taipei. FTV reporter Stephany takes us in for a look.

Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
Roller skating is making a comeback. Here at this new indoor roller skating rink, you can choose your favorite skates and glide under the neon lights.

Pop and dance music play in the background as skaters make rounds around the rink under the neon lights. As they glide by, their skates flash and the floor illuminates with different fluorescent patterns. Roller skating was a popular pastime in the 1970s and 1980s. And now it’s making a big comeback at this new roller skating rink in Taipei, which is space themed.

Member of public
I think it’s great, the overall design is very well done. The space series is fantastic. However, the area here is too small. I hope they can make it a bit bigger.

Member of public
It’s very fun because you can skate around in circles. There are patterns on the floor, and when you glide over one, the color will change. Your shoes will also shine when you skate, which is very fun.

Member of public
I haven’t skated for almost 10 to 20 years, so coming here is like returning to the feeling of going ice skating with my classmates when I was much younger. I think having a place like this is wonderful. It’s very beautiful. My daughter has just learned to skate. I think the atmosphere here is great for children.

The 450-ping skating rink was inspired by U.S. retro disco roller skating rinks, yet its several Instagram check-in spots give it a 21st century touch. If you’re a beginner, there’s a practice area with rails.

Besides the rink, it’s also equipped with basketball and dart machines as well as several resting areas for people to eat and relax. The rink can accommodate 300 people at the same time.

Member of public
A friend brought me here today. I think it’s very fun. There are handrails so it’s super safe, and the staff members have been really kind to us. The overall design is high-tech.

Member of public
I have nothing to do at home during the summer vacation. So, it’s not a bad idea to go out to exercise. It’s also very beautiful and perfect for taking pictures and checking in on Instagram and creating memories.

Member of public
I used to do in-line skating. This kind of skating is more difficult. You have to get used to it. It’s different from in-line skating, but it’s still quite a fun experience. It’s very fun.

With summer in full swing, indoor roller skating may be the perfect way to cool off and relive the 1970s to 1990s.

2023-07-13