MediaTek, Low-Orbit Satellite Stocks Strong as TAIEX Pares Losses, Closing Down 721 Points Off Low
The Taiwan stock market plunged by over a thousand points in early trading on the 18th but significantly narrowed its losses, driven by strong performances from MediaTek, passive components, and low-earth orbit satellite stocks, while TSMC also recovered from its lows. The market closed down 280.54 points at 40,891.82, leaving a long lower shadow of 721.65 points. An analyst noted that while profit-taking pressure exists at high levels, the market showed resilience. Key variables to watch going forward include the U.S.-Iran conflict, corporate earnings, and U.S.-China trade relations.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 15:27
- 🔍 Collected: May 18, 2026 at 15:31 (4 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 18, 2026 at 16:40 (1h 9m after Collected)
(CNA, Taipei, 18th) The Taiwan stock market plummeted by over a thousand points in early trading today, but with strong performances from MediaTek, passive components, and low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite stocks, and a narrowing of losses for TSMC, the TAIEX weighted index closed down 280.54 points at 40,891.82, a 0.68% decline. The market left a long lower shadow of 721.65 points, with a turnover of NT$990.466 billion.
The electronics sub-index closed down 0.69%, the financial sub-index fell 0.83%, and the OTC index, representing small and medium-sized stocks, dropped 0.38%.
Market heavyweight TSMC hit a low of 2215 yuan in early trading, down 50 yuan or 2.2%, but closed at 2240 yuan, down 25 yuan, narrowing its loss to 1.1%. Its market capitalization stood at approximately NT$58.09 trillion. Other major electronics stocks saw Delta Electronics close at 2020 yuan, down 2.65%; MediaTek surged 4.29% to close at 3400 yuan; Hon Hai closed flat at 248.5 yuan; and ASE Technology Holding fell 6.76% to 510 yuan.
In the memory sector, Nanya Technology had a volatile session, closing down 2.09% at 305 yuan. Winbond Electronics turned positive to close at 130.5 yuan, up 0.77%, while Macronix narrowed its decline to close at 160 yuan, down 1.54%.
Passive component maker Yageo hit its limit-up price of 501 yuan, and Walsin Technology rose 5.58% to 217.5 yuan. Several LEO satellite concept stocks, including WNC, Accton, and Compeq, also closed at their limit-up prices.
High-priced stocks with share prices over a thousand yuan had mixed results, with 48 remaining in the 'qianjin' (thousand-dollar) club. Market king Asmedia Technology fell 6.08%, while market queen Alchip Technologies rebounded to close at 10,240 yuan, up 4.7%, reclaiming the 10,000 yuan mark. U-Metal Technology surged 8.65% to 1030 yuan, joining the thousand-yuan club. Hantang and Sinying held the thousand-yuan level, but Sun-Hot fell below it.
Wei Yong-hsiang, manager of the Taisin Taiwan Advantage & Growth Active ETF, stated that after a significant rally, the Taiwan stock market is facing increasing profit-taking pressure. Today's early plunge of over a thousand points was also influenced by the sharp drop in U.S. stocks on the 15th, but the market later pared losses and consolidated at a high level.
Looking ahead, Wei pointed out that with the TAIEX repeatedly hitting new highs and its deviation widening, coupled with a surge in margin financing to over NT$490 billion, the market's籌碼 (chips) are becoming less stable, and short-term volatility is expected to increase.
Observing the international scene, Wei noted three major variables to watch: whether the conflict between the U.S. and Iran can be resolved quickly to restore free passage through the Strait of Hormuz; market forecasts for corporate earnings in the current year and 2027 after the release of U.S. and Taiwanese corporate reports; and the future of U.S.-China trade relations after the Trump-Xi meeting. (Editor: Yang Kai-hsiang) 1150518
The electronics sub-index closed down 0.69%, the financial sub-index fell 0.83%, and the OTC index, representing small and medium-sized stocks, dropped 0.38%.
Market heavyweight TSMC hit a low of 2215 yuan in early trading, down 50 yuan or 2.2%, but closed at 2240 yuan, down 25 yuan, narrowing its loss to 1.1%. Its market capitalization stood at approximately NT$58.09 trillion. Other major electronics stocks saw Delta Electronics close at 2020 yuan, down 2.65%; MediaTek surged 4.29% to close at 3400 yuan; Hon Hai closed flat at 248.5 yuan; and ASE Technology Holding fell 6.76% to 510 yuan.
In the memory sector, Nanya Technology had a volatile session, closing down 2.09% at 305 yuan. Winbond Electronics turned positive to close at 130.5 yuan, up 0.77%, while Macronix narrowed its decline to close at 160 yuan, down 1.54%.
Passive component maker Yageo hit its limit-up price of 501 yuan, and Walsin Technology rose 5.58% to 217.5 yuan. Several LEO satellite concept stocks, including WNC, Accton, and Compeq, also closed at their limit-up prices.
High-priced stocks with share prices over a thousand yuan had mixed results, with 48 remaining in the 'qianjin' (thousand-dollar) club. Market king Asmedia Technology fell 6.08%, while market queen Alchip Technologies rebounded to close at 10,240 yuan, up 4.7%, reclaiming the 10,000 yuan mark. U-Metal Technology surged 8.65% to 1030 yuan, joining the thousand-yuan club. Hantang and Sinying held the thousand-yuan level, but Sun-Hot fell below it.
Wei Yong-hsiang, manager of the Taisin Taiwan Advantage & Growth Active ETF, stated that after a significant rally, the Taiwan stock market is facing increasing profit-taking pressure. Today's early plunge of over a thousand points was also influenced by the sharp drop in U.S. stocks on the 15th, but the market later pared losses and consolidated at a high level.
Looking ahead, Wei pointed out that with the TAIEX repeatedly hitting new highs and its deviation widening, coupled with a surge in margin financing to over NT$490 billion, the market's籌碼 (chips) are becoming less stable, and short-term volatility is expected to increase.
Observing the international scene, Wei noted three major variables to watch: whether the conflict between the U.S. and Iran can be resolved quickly to restore free passage through the Strait of Hormuz; market forecasts for corporate earnings in the current year and 2027 after the release of U.S. and Taiwanese corporate reports; and the future of U.S.-China trade relations after the Trump-Xi meeting. (Editor: Yang Kai-hsiang) 1150518