Business and Finance

Tsai attends business forum

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-22
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen attended a forum Tuesday where she discussed economic issues with representatives of seven business associations.

Tsai is widely tipped to win the January 16 election, which would lead her to be faced with Taiwan’s dormant economy after she is sworn in on May 20. Kuomintang candidate Eric Liluan Chu, People First Party candidate James Soong and the three vice-presidential running mates were also invited to appear separately over three days.

Before attending the “Taiwan Economic Development Forum,” she rejected accusations from the Green Party-Social Democratic Party Alliance that her presence amounted to an “oral examination” with Big Business.     [FULL  STORY]

SE launches 2nd tender offer for Siliconware stake

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/22
By: Jalen Chung and Frances Huang

Taipei, Dec. 22 (CNA) Taiwan-based Advanced Semiconductor

ASE executives announce 2nd bid to acquire Siliconware stakes.

ASE executives announce 2nd bid to acquire Siliconware stakes.

Engineering Inc. (ASE, 日月光), the world’s largest integrated circuit packaging and testing service provider, announced Tuesday a tender offer to acquire an additional 24.71 percent stake in Siliconware Precision Industries Co. (矽品).

It is the second tender offer in four months by ASE to acquire Siliconware shares in a bid to boost ASE’s aggregate stake in Siliconware to 49.71 percent. Siliconware, which is also based in Taiwan, is the third-largest IC packaging and testing firm in the world.

The tender offer is scheduled to start Dec. 29 and will end Feb. 16, 2016 to acquire common shares and American depository receipts (ADRs) of Siliconware at NT$55 (US$1.67) per share. The tender offer needs approval from the Fair Trade Commission before it can kick off.

Taiwan eyes business opportunities in Muslim markets

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-21
By: By Milly Lin and Elizabeth Hsu, Central News Agency

Attracted by business opportunities in Muslim markets in the Middle East and Central Asia, Taiwan is preparing to assist businesses to acquire halal certification and will also take measures to boost exports to secular Turkey.

At a forum held Sunday by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the semi-official Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) in Istanbul, Turkey, Economics Minister John Deng led MOEA and TAITRA staff stationed in the Middle East and Central Asia to brainstorm strategies for boosting Taiwan’s exports to those areas.

Also taking part in the discussion, which focused on how to address Taiwan’s weakening exports, were Bureau of Foreign Trade Director-General Yang Jen-ni, TAITRA Chairman Francis Liang and TAITRA President and CEO Peter Huang.     [FULL  STORY]

Minimum wage hike discussions put on hold

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/21
By: Zoe Wei and Y.F. Low

Taipei, Dec. 21 (CNA) The Minimum Wage Review Committee under the 201512210025t0001Ministry of Labor will not meet again this year to discuss whether to adjust the country’s minimum wage, in light of the unfavorable economic situation, an official said Monday.

During its last meeting in August, the committee decided not to raise the minimum wage. The ministry, however, said at that time that a minimum wage working group would have discussions in the fourth quarter on whether the committee will meet for a second time on the issue.

During a meeting of the working group Monday, representatives of workers and employers reached a consensus that the committee will not meet again this year, after considering the country’s unsatisfactory economic data, including the gross domestic product and consumer price index, according to Hsieh Chien-chien (謝倩蒨), head of the Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment.     [FULL  STORY]

NDC sets GDP at 2.7%, indicating turnaround

LINGERING FACTORS:The nation’s economic growth uncertainty is overshadowed by the so-called Chinese ‘red supply chain’ that is dampening Taiwan’s technology sector

Taipei Times
Date:  Dec 22, 2015
By: Ted Chen  /  Staff reporter

The National Development Council (NDC) yesterday set its annual GDP growth target for next year between 2.1 percent and 2.7 percent, indicating that the nation’s economy is improving after this year’s weakness.

Taiwan’s economy is expected to grow at an annual rate of 1.06 percent this year, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) predicted.

The upper limit of the GDP growth forecast would be achievable if downside risks arising from uncertainties over the international economy are minimal and if government stimulus policies have the intended effect, NDC director-general of overall planning Connie Chang (張惠娟) said.     [FULL  STORY]

Koo professes interest in Taipei Dome

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-19
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Jeffrey Koo Jr., the scion of one of Taiwan’s most powerful business dynasties, on Saturday expressed interest in taking over the Taipei Dome project, though he added he had not held any talks on the issue.

The 40,000-seat stadium complex is close to completion, but over the past year it has been caught in a high-profile dispute between the administration of Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je and the developer, tycoon Chao Teng-hsiung’s Farglory Group. The issues include safety and financial payments, and have led to a city-ordered construction stop and court cases.

There have been media reports that Koo and his family’s CTBC Financial Holding Co., Ltd. might be interested in taking over the Taipei Dome from Farglory.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan’s IC design sector should welcome foreign funds: researcher

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/20
By: Jackson Chang and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Dec. 20 (CNA) Anticipating tough challenges ahead of Taiwan’s 201512200012t0001integrated circuit (IC) design industry, a senior researcher at the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) said Sunday that if there are international companies wanting to invest in the sector, they should be welcomed.

The IC design industry should not just be limited to the design field, but also try to be more flexible with its operations, said Stephen Su (蘇孟宗), director-general of the Industrial Economics and Knowledge Center (IEK) of the ITRI.

He suggested the sector extend its reach into the fields of IC applications and integrated services, such as the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0.     [FULL  STORY]

Banks expected to fare better than insurers in 2016

CREDIT SUISSE’S VIEW:E.Sun Financial Holding Co is seen as the top long play for next year with a growth momentum two to three times that of its local peers

The Taipei Times
Date:  Dec 21, 2015
By: Ted Chen  /  Staff reporter

Taiwanese banks are expected to outperform insurers next year, as their earnings are less susceptible to the impacts of recent monetary policy changes, analysts said.

The central bank on Thursday lowered policy interest rates by 12.5 basis points for the second time in three months, just a day after the US Federal Reserve announced that it was hiking rates by 25 basis points.

Credit Suisse AG listed E.Sun Financial Holding Co (玉山金控) as its top long play for next year, and life insurance-heavy Fubon Financial Holding Co (富邦金控) as its top short play.     [FULL  STORY]

Koo professes interest in Taipei Dome

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-19
By Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Jeffrey Koo Jr., the scion of one of Taiwan’s most powerful business dynasties, on Saturday expressed interest in taking over the Taipei Dome project, though he added he had not held any talks on the issue.

The 40,000-seat stadium complex is close to completion, but over the past year it has been caught in a high-profile dispute between the administration of Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je and the developer, tycoon Chao Teng-hsiung’s Farglory Group. The issues include safety and financial payments, and have led to a city-ordered construction stop and court cases.

There have been media reports that Koo and his family’s CTBC Financial Holding Co., Ltd. might be interested in taking over the Taipei Dome from Farglory.     [FULL  STORY]

Hypermarket sales could hit new high in 2015

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/19
By: Huang Chiao-wen and Frances Huang

Taipei, Dec. 19 (CNA) Sales of hypermarkets in Taiwan are expected to hit a new high of more than NT$180 billion (US$33 billion) this year as chain

Terry Gou, chairman of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (鴻海精密), speaks to reporters on Saturday, Dec. 19. (CNA

Terry Gou, chairman of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (鴻海精密), speaks to reporters on Saturday, Dec. 19. (CNA

operators have made great efforts to develop e-commerce platforms to boost sales, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

In addition, the MOEA said that these hypermarket chain operators have worked with renowned brands in a wide range of industries, such as fashion items, restaurants and telecom service providers, to broaden their production lines, a move which is expected to attract more consumers.

The ministry added that since the government launched short-term economic stimulus measures in November to encourage consumers to buy energy-efficient home appliances, hypermarket operators have been among the beneficiaries.     [FULL  STORY]