Taiwan: Stocks dip; Taiwan dollar pulls back from 2-1/2-year high

[TAIPEI] Taiwan stocks fell on Thursday, largely tracking Asian shares and ending the week's rally, while the local currency pulled back from a two-and-a-half-year intraday high hit in the previous session.

Asian shares dipped after a US tax plan failed to inspire investors, though sentiment was still supported by global growth prospects and receding worries about European political risks.

The main Taiex index fell 0.14 per cent to 9,842.22 as of 0157 GMT, after closing up 0.2 per cent on Wednesday.

The automobile subindex led the losses, falling 0.71 per cent, while the financial subindex was down 0.3 per cent.

Among actively traded shares, Sinopac Financial Holdings Co Ltd, which has subsidiaries in banking, securities and leasing, fell 0.75 per cent.

The Taiwan dollar strengthened NT$0.016 to stand at NT$30.135 to the US dollar from Wednesday's closing.

REUTERS