Taiwan: Stocks edge up; tech, financials lead gains

[TAIPEI] Taiwan stocks edged up on Friday while sentiment remained subdued due to uncertainty over a tight US presidential election.

As of 0330 GMT, the main Taiex index was up 0.14 per cent at 9,079.93. It hit a near three-week intraday low in the previous session.

The electronics subindex rose as much as 0.1 per cent, while the financial subindex gained as much as 0.3 per cent.

Cathay Financial Holdings, parent company of Taiwan's biggest life insurer - Cathay Life Insurance, rose as much as 1.4 per cent.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world's biggest contract chip manufacturer, climbed as much as 0.8 per cent.

The Taiwan dollar softened NT$0.027 to NT$31.495 per US dollar.

Asian shares slipped on Friday and the US dollar nursed losses in a week marked by growing uncertainty about the outcome of the US presidential election.

REUTERS