Taiwan News  
Date: 2018/02/18
By:  Central News Agency

Taipei, Feb. 18 (CNA) A move by MSCI Inc., a global index provider, to cut Taiwan’s

weighting in two of its major indexes, is expected to prompt foreign institutional investors to remit about NT$1.1 billion out of the country, according to an estimate by the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC).

Chien Hung-ming, chief secretary of the FSC’s Securities and Futures Bureau, said earlier this week that a fund drain following the latest weighting cut by MSCI is expected to hit about US$38 million.

However, Chien said the fund outflow is unlikely to have an adverse impact on the local equity market, as the money is dwarfed by NT$1.37 trillion in market capitalization owned by foreign institutional investors in the local equity market.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/02/18
By: Chang Chien-chung and Frances Huang 

Taipei, Feb. 18 (CNA) Nanya Technology Corp., a Taiwan-based DRAM maker, retained its position as the world’s fourth-largest supplier in the fourth quarter of last year, according to market information advisory firm TrendForce Corp.

In a research report, TrendForce said Nanya, a DRAM manufacturing arm of the Formosa Plastics Group conglomerate, posted US$558 million in sales during the October-December period, up 26.9 percent from a quarter earlier.

Due to the higher revenue in the fourth quarter, Nanya saw its global market share rising to 2.5 percent from 2.3 percent.

TrendForce said Nanya’s efforts to upgrade its technology to the 20 nanometer process have helped the manufacturer improve its cost structure.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/02/17
By: Huang Ya-chuan and S.C. Chang

Taipei, Feb. 17 (CNA) Formosa Petrochemical Corp., a privately owned fuel supplier, announced Saturday that it will cut domestic gasoline and diesel prices from 1:00 a.m. Monday to reflect increased output of shale oil in the United States.

With the move, Formosa Petrochemical’s gas and diesel prices will go down by NT$0.6 and NT$0.7 per liter, respectively, which will result in 95 octane unleaded dropping to NT$27.2 per liter.

The fuel supplier said its 92 unleaded will be priced at NT$25.8 and 98 unleaded at NT$29.3, while its super diesel will be sold at NT$23.3 per liter.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-02-16

The landmark Grand Hotel saw a 15-year high last year in its revenues. That’s despite

an ongoing recession in Taiwan’s hospitality sector.

The hotel saw nearly NT$1.3 billion (nearly US$44million) in revenue last year. That’s despite a major fall in Chinese tour groups visiting Taiwan. Grand Hotel Chairman Chang Hsueh-shan said there was an increase in the number of independent Chinese and Japanese tourists which led to higher revenues.

In 2017, 35% of the hotel guests were Chinese, down from 38% the year before. But Japanese visitors increased from 28% to 32%. Chang said independent Chinese travelers are willing to pay a higher price for accommodation. The independent Japanese and Chinese visitors were a key factor in the increase in revenues.
[SOURCE]

Plans for the massive 4,500 hectare project have been in the works since the Ma administration

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/02/16
By: Duncan DeAeth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Taoyuan International Airport and the government are

gearing up for a massive infrastructure expansion project set to begin in 2018; The Taoyuan Aerotropolis project.

The massive infrastructure development plan is set to receive final approval in March, and then the Taoyuan City Government will have the clear to begin seeking contractors to start construction.

The Taoyuan Aerotropolis will essentially create a modern industrial logistics center, development zone as well as a modern urban residential neighborhood, all surrounding the current Taoyuan International Airport.

Concept plans for the massive 4,500 hectare project have been in the works since the Ma administration, and the project will possibly be the largest infrastructure project in Taiwan’s history.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/02/15
By: Jeffrey Wu and Evelyn Kao 

Taipei, Feb. 15 (CNA) With more people seeking to find online stardom as an anchor in the live video streaming world, people serving as agents dedicated to training live-streaming hosts and other professionals has become a fast-emerging business.

Among the leaders in the industry is Taiwanese live-streaming platform 17 Media, which says it has 15 million users. It’s a mobile app that allows users to do live broadcasts and interact with others in real time.

17 Media has certified 2,000 live-streaming anchors, and 500 of them have signed contracts with other agencies.

Aside from relying on in-depth training to cultivate live-streaming talent, 17 Media also offers tailored training programs to help live-streaming hosts in different sectors develop their singing, acting and hosting skills.    [FULL  STORY]

HUGE TECH DEAL: At a meeting with representatives of Broadcom, Qualcomm’s representatives listened, but did not engage with their counterparts, a source said

Taipei Times
Date: Feb 16, 2018
By: Bloomberg

Qualcomm Inc said its board will convene to discuss the next steps on Broadcom Ltd’s

US$121 billion acquisition offer after a meeting with its hostile suitor on Wednesday, giving no indication of whether the two chipmakers are closer to agreeing on the largest deal in the history of technology.

“We met with representatives of Broadcom for two hours earlier today, and listened carefully to what they had to say,” Qualcomm said in a statement after the meeting in New York. “The Qualcomm board will promptly meet to discuss the meeting and to determine next steps.”

While Qualcomm’s representatives listened, they did not engage with their counterparts, according to a person familiar with Broadcom’s view of how the meeting went.    [FULL STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/02/13
By Frances Huang 

Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) The U.S. dollar fell against the Taiwan dollar Tuesday, shedding NT$0.042 to close at NT$29.358 as a rising Wall Street boosted currency traders’ appetite for risk taking by picking up non-U.S. dollar currencies in the region, dealers said.

In addition, seasonal fund demand ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday also placed downward pressure on the U.S. dollar, while the losses suffered by the greenback against the Taiwan dollar were capped by a fall in the Chinese yuan, dealers added.

The U.S. dollar opened at the day’s high of NT$29.392, and moved to a low of NT$29.329 before rebounding. Turnover totaled US$584 million during the trading session.    [FULL  STORY]