Taiwan: Shares fall ahead of GDP data

[TAIPEI] Taiwan stocks fell on Friday, tracking slides in other regional bourses, with investors staying cautious as the Taiwan government is expected to cut its 2015 GDP forecast, which is already at six-year lows.

As of 0142 GMT, the main TAIEX index fell 0.2 per cent to 8,469.54, after closing at 8,484.9 in the previous session.

The electronics subindex slipped 0.3 per cent, while the financials subindex gained 0.1 per cent.

Taiwan's export-driven economy has been hit hard by faltering global demand for tech gadgets among others. The government is set to revise down its 2015 full-year and third-quarter GDP figures at 0800 GMT.

The Taiwan dollar firmed TW$0.088 to TW$32.613 per US dollar.

REUTERS