Focus Taiwan
Date: 04/21/2020
By: Frances Huang

Taipei, April 21 (CNA) Shares in Taiwan moved sharply lower across the board Tuesday, falling almost 3 percent to end below 10,300 points, with market sentiment spooked by heavy losses on U.S. markets in the wake of diving crude oil prices, dealers said.

Unconfirmed reports in the international media that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in critical condition after heart surgery triggered more selling as investors grew concerned over potential geopolitical instability, they said.

The weighted index on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) or the Taiex closed down 298.29 points, or 2.82 percent, at 10,288.42, after moving between 10,278.95 and 10,544.80, on turnover of NT$183.28 billion (US$6.11 billion).

The market opened down 0.40 percent and selling escalated in response to a 2.44 percent plunge on the Dow Jones Industrial Average overnight after a massive tumble in May oil futures in New York amid concerns over the global economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, dealers said.    [FULL  STORY]