The combined revenue of companies listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) fell 10.73 percent last month from a year earlier to NT$2.46 trillion (US$81.85 billion) due to weak demand and a high comparison base. This compares to the 0.98 percent growth a month earlier and a mild decline of 0.04 percent for last year, exchange data showed.

Of the 938 of 941 companies reported their sales figures, 211 posted growth, while 727 (78 percent) reported declines.

“The electrical wire and cable industry, iron and steel industry as well as glass and ceramics industry were the three industries with declining revenues,” the exchange said in a statement.

The declines may be the result of a high comparison base, falling prices of steel, and weak demand for glass and ceramics, it said.

Semis Strong

The semiconductor, tourism and information service industries posted the highest revenue increases, benefiting from growing demand for mobile and high-performance computing.

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) remained the nation’s largest listed firm in terms of revenue at NT$364 billion, but the figure was down 12 percent year-on-year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) ranked second, generating NT$103 billion in revenue, up 32 percent from a year earlier, ahead of Pegatron Corp (和碩), whose revenue sank 22 percent to NT$95 billion, exchange data showed.

Cathay Financial Holding Co (國泰金控) ranked fourth with revenue of NT$63 billion, up 85 percent annually, ahead of Quanta Computer Inc (廣達), which saw revenue fall 25.9 percent to NT$63 billion, the data showed.

Source:  Taipei Times