Taiwan stocks finished lower on Wednesday, with the Taiwan Weighted ending the session down 2.45% as declines in the Glass and Plastic sectors pressured the market.
Benchmark move - At the close in Taiwan, the Taiwan Weighted lost 2.45%.
Top performers - Among the best-performing names on the Taiwan Weighted were Cheer Time Enterprise Co Ltd (TW:3229), which rose 10.00% or 1.95 points to trade at 21.45 at the close. Asia Polymer Corp (TW:1308) added 10.00% or 1.65 points to end at 18.15, while Cub Elecparts Inc (TW:2231) was up 9.98% or 8.20 points to 90.40 in late trade.
Lagging stocks - The weakest performers were HannsTouch Solution Inc (TW:3049), which fell 10.00% or 1.80 points to trade at 16.20 at the close. Promise Technology Inc (TW:3057) declined 10.00% or 1.90 points to end at 17.10, and Chia Her Industrial Co Ltd (TW:1449) was down 10.00% or 1.35 points to 12.15.
Market breadth was noted in the session report as: Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Taiwan Stock Exchange by 0 to 0.
Shares in Asia Polymer Corp (TW:1308) rose to 52-week highs; rising 10.00% or 1.65 to 18.15.
Commodities and currency - In commodities trading, crude oil for May delivery fell 3.47% or 3.20 to $89.15 a barrel. Brent oil for delivery in June dropped 3.64% or 3.65 to $96.58 a barrel. The June Gold Futures contract rose 3.45% or 153.05 to trade at $4,587.15 a troy ounce.
On the currency front, USD/TWD was up 0.05% to 31.95, while TWD/CNY unchanged 0.05% to 0.22. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.08% at 99.17.
Takeaway - The session closed with the benchmark sharply lower and notable single-stock volatility, including multiple names moving by double-digit percentages. Commodity markets, particularly crude and Brent oil, recorded notable declines, while gold futures posted a sizable advance. Currency moves were modest.