Taiwan: Stocks fall; transport, plastics shares drag

[TAIPEI] Taiwan stocks fell on Friday, dragged down by the transport and plastics shares, continuing a reversal of gains posted earlier this week.

The main Taiex index fell 0.91 per cent to 9,570.88 as of 0143 GMT, after closing down 0.97 per cent on Thursday.

The plastics and transport indexes fell over 1.5 per cent each, while the electronics subindex fell 0.77 per cent and the financial subindex was down 0.26 per cent.

Among the bottom movers, China General Plastics Corp fell 6.03 per cent and U-Ming Marine Transport Corp fell 3.09 per cent.

Asian stocks edged up and the dollar rose to 1-1/2-month highs versus the yen on Friday ahead of the US nonfarm payrolls report due later in the day. The payrolls outcome has drawn particular interest as it could improve the chances of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates several times this year. Wall Street was marginally higher on Thursday.

The Taiwan dollar softened NT$0.100 to stand at NT$31.120 to the US dollar.

REUTERS