Putin makes debut visit to Etorofu Island; review of 70 years of Japan-Russia Northern Territories talks
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Summary not yet available
Facts
1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration
In 2018, then-Japanese Prime Minister 安倍晉三 and Putin agreed to accelerate peace treaty negotiations based on the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration.
The two countries' leaders have not held face-to-face talks since 2019.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Japan joined the United States and Europe in imposing sanctions on Russia. Moscow subsequently announced it would suspend peace treaty negotiations with Japan, leaving the Northern Territories dispute deadlocked.
U.S. initial jobless claims rose to 209,000 last week; labor market remains stable
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Initial U.S. jobless claims last week rose to 209,000 from the previous week and exceeded market expectations, but remained near this year’s lows. The data showed that the labor market was not weakening and will affect the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decisions.
〈Earnings〉 Port Congestion Turns Into a Boon for Shipping! Maersk's Quarterly Profit Beats Expectations, Full-Year Forecast Raised
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Danish shipping giant Maersk significantly exceeded market expectations for 2nd-quarter profit and raised its full-year outlook. Port congestion and Chinese export demand drove up freight rates and boosted results.
Major Leadership Shake-Up at DBS Bank Asia! Huang Szu-han to Hand Over in 2027 After Strong Earnings; Lin Tzu-tsung to Lead Taiwan Operations
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
DBS Bank reshuffled senior personnel in Asia. 黃思翰 moved from Taiwan to Hong Kong, while 林子聰 transferred from Indonesia to Taiwan. The bank emphasized strategic continuity through internal promotions.
Jensen Huang Personally Urges More Supplies! SK海力士 to Spend a Whopping $720 Billion to Build an AI Memory Empire
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
SK海力士 plans to invest $720 billion to build the world’s largest memory production network. With AI demand expected to persist over the long term, HBM supplies are so tight that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has personally pressed the company to deliver.
$55 Billion Leveraged Buyout Deal Closes; Trump's Son-in-Law Seen as Behind-the-Scenes Force
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
A consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s PIF acquired U.S. gaming giant EA for $55 billion, completing the largest LBO in history. Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Trump, was also involved, drawing attention to the links between politics and capital.
Companies mentioned：Electronic Arts、Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund、JPMorgan Chase、Silver Lake Capital、Affinity Partners
Inflation Pressure Continues to Ease! U.S. July PPI Rises Just 4.7% Year Over Year, Below Forecasts
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
U.S. July PPI rose 4.7% year on year, below expectations, clearly indicating that inflation was slowing. This points to the possibility of a Federal Reserve policy shift and is significant for financial markets.
Fake Accounts Impersonating Financial Figures Proliferate! Stock Exchange Says Chairman Has No Group, Warns of AI Deepfake Scams
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Fraudsters impersonated the Taiwan Stock Exchange chairman and used AI deepfake technology to set up investment groups on social media. The exchange said it has not established any groups and urged the public to stay vigilant. The incident highlights the growing risk of AI scams.
TECO posted increases in both gross and operating margins in the second quarter of 2026, driven mainly by growth in its power and energy and electromechanical systems businesses. Its push into data centers, green energy storage and the U.S. market signals that its globalization and high-value-added strategy is paying off.
Norway's Central Bank Holds Rate at 4.25%; Inflation Risks and Geopolitics Cloud Policy Outlook
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Norway’s central bank held its benchmark interest rate at 4.25% and maintained a restrictive stance to curb inflation. Geopolitical risks are also adding to policy uncertainty, and the possibility of another rate hike in September is being discussed.
Compal Electronics (2324-TW) reported its second-quarter 2026 results, with non-PC businesses accounting for 35% of revenue. AI servers and AI PCs are driving its transformation, while net profit rose 91% year over year. The company is accelerating its global AI infrastructure expansion, demonstrating strong growth momentum.
General Chamber of Commerce: Building a Platform for Taiwanese Businesses to Collaborate and Help Promising Companies Grow; Encourages Small and Medium-Sized Firms to Compete Globally
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
The General Chamber of Commerce held the 8th Golden Ship Brand Awards in 2026, recognizing 33 outstanding small and medium-sized enterprises. It pledged to combine financial and global Taiwanese business resources to help companies expand internationally and boost the global competitiveness of Taiwan brands.
Taishin Shin Kong Financial Holding Posts 8.94 Billion in July Profit, Up 147% Year Over Year; EPS Reaches Record 2.04 for First Seven Months
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Taishin Shin Kong Financial Holding reported after-tax profit of 8.94 billion in July 2026, up 147% year over year, with EPS reaching a record 2.04 for the first seven months. The results reflect strong financial synergies and operating momentum following the merger, and are a significant indicator for Taiwan's financial industry.
JKO Pay, With Capital of 500 Million, Still in the Red; Taishan to Bid in Auction for 100% Stake
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Taishan announced that it would enforce its pledge over 100% of the shares in JKoPay and participate in an auction. The move aims to recover its investment and protect its assets, and is expected to go before a shareholders’ meeting for approval.
Taiwanese semiconductor testing company 漢測 posted record operating and net profits in the first half of 2025, driven by growing demand for AI and HPC. Custom products, including thermal management modules for high-power chips, fueled growth.
Four Subsidiaries Drive Growth! Hua Nan Financial's First Seven-Month Profit Tops 20 Billion, Up 37.54% and a Record for the Period
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Hua Nan Financial Holding reported after-tax profit of 20.651 billion for the first seven months, up 37.54% year over year and a record for the same period. Growth across all four major subsidiaries drove the result, demonstrating the group's resilience and synergies.
China Accounts for Just 1.5% of Revenue! Why Is Microsoft Closing 15 Sites but Still Not Leaving?
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Microsoft has closed 15 sites in China over the past 5 years and scaled back operations amid geopolitical risks and technology restrictions. However, it remains in the market by helping Chinese companies expand overseas, seeking a strategic balance.
Ili Technology-KY Books One-Time Liability in Q2, EPS at 0.03; Q3 Revenue Expected to Rise Quarter Over Quarter
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Ili Technology-KY set aside 387 million for a one-time liability provision in the second quarter, sending after-tax net profit down 95% year over year, although revenue rose 22.6% quarter over quarter. The company expects revenue to continue rising in the third quarter and is focusing on OLED and AI edge-computing technologies.
Taiwan’s exchanges designated 禾伸堂, 聯茂, 華星光 and 環宇-KY as 4 stocks subject to price fluctuation controls. From August 14 to 20, they will be traded through manual matching to help stabilize the market.
All Three Major Shareholders of 中聯油脂 in the Red in First Half; Taishan Estimates Loss of More Than 1.5 per Share
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Taiwanese food company Taishan posted an after-tax loss of NT$787 million in the first half of 2026. Investment losses at 中聯油脂 and food safety issues were to blame, and all 3 major shareholders ended up in the red.
World's Third-Largest! Chinese Company Surpasses Micron and Kioxia in NAND Shipments; Analysts See Gap Potentially Widening in 2027 to 2028
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
China’s Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC) rose to 3rd place globally in NAND flash memory shipments, surpassing Micron and Kioxia. Amid growing AI demand, the gap could widen further in 2027–2028.
Foreign Investors Expand Net Buying to 75.7 Billion, Snap Up More Than 190,000 Lots of 4 Active ETFs and Add 2 Memory Stocks
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Foreign investors poured substantial funds into memory stocks and actively managed ETFs on Taiwan’s stock market, buying about 100,000 lots, mainly in Nanya Technology and PSMC, and acquiring more than 190,000 lots across 4 ETFs. This reflects expectations for AI-related demand.
Bora's First-Half Profit Falls More Than Seven-Tenths to 582 Million as One-Time Gain in Year-Earlier Period Raised the Base
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Bora reported after-tax net profit of 582 million for the first half, down more than seven-tenths year over year, mainly because a one-time gain in the same period last year raised the comparison base. Operations rebounded in the second quarter, with significant growth in CDMO and global sales businesses.
〈Phison Earnings Call〉 AI Sparks Storage Demand; NAND Supply and Demand May Remain Out of Balance in 2027 and 2028
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Phison, a major NAND controller chip maker, warned that supply shortages would continue in 2027–2028 amid rising AI demand. The company is accelerating its shift toward enterprise SSDs and AI platforms.
Dividends and core businesses both rise: Mega Financial’s profit for the first 7 months reaches NT$25.6 billion, up 14.45% year on year, a record for the period; EPS is NT$1.73
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
兆豐金控 posted record self-reported earnings for July and the first 7 months, driven by growth in core businesses and dividend income. Securities operations were affected by market volatility, but overall performance remained steady.
Trump claims control of the Strait of Hormuz! Data contradicts claim: only 14 ships transit daily as insurance premiums soar to US$10 million
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Former President Trump claimed the United States had full control of the Strait of Hormuz, but vessel data show traffic plunging to 14 ships a day and insurance premiums soaring to US$10 million. The stark gap between reality and rhetoric highlights how effectively Iran is controlling the waterway through a strategy of fear.
Companies mentioned：Saudi Aramco、Kpler、Marsh、Marisks、Center for a New American Security (CNAS)、International Energy Agency (IEA)
Minimum wage to rise next year; business group says higher hourly minimum wage for this group should come first
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
許舒博, chairman of the 全国商業総会, proposed prioritizing hourly wage increases for students and part-time workers over raising the basic wage in 2027. The aim is to support disadvantaged local workers while taking into account the burden on traditional industries that rely heavily on foreign workers.
UK economic growth slows to 0.4% in second quarter as energy costs sap momentum
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
The UK’s GDP growth slowed to 0.4% in the 2nd quarter of 2026, but services provided support, with growth of 0.3% in June alone. Rising energy costs are a risk going forward.
Phison earnings surge: first-half EPS hits a record NT$187.43; company proposes NT$60 cash dividend per share
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
With NAND prices surging, Phison Technology’s profit soared in the 2nd quarter. After-tax net profit rose more than 34 times year on year, first-half EPS reached 187.43 yuan, and the company announced a dividend of 60 yuan per share, demonstrating strong profitability and returns to shareholders. The results symbolize the semiconductor market’s strength.
[Enjoying whisky supports recovery] A charity event supporting recovery from the Kumamoto earthquake will be held on Aug. 22, 2026 (Sat.) at BAR Shinjuku Whisky Salon, where whisky enthusiasts will bring along a “bottle from their private collection”
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Generally ¥8,000 or more
Participation fee: ¥5,000
Of the participation fee, ¥1,000 will be donated to the “Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund” of 日本赤十字社鹿児島県支部.
[Free online seminar] Overcoming the labor shortage of 12 million people by 2040! An integrated talent strategy combining “external talent × mid-career and senior professionals”
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
By 2040, the labor force is projected to decline by approximately 12 million or more compared with 2020
Since its founding in 2006
In 2014, awarded a contract by 全国中小企業団体中央会 for its “Project to Support the Recruitment and Retention of Senior Talent at Local Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises”
[Special conversation] Yuka Harigai, author of “How to Make ‘Me Time’ in Denmark, the Happiest Country,” × Masaki Hara, author of “The Interviewing Skills That Can Change Your Life”
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
A wealth of interview experience spanning 30 years
“4 steps Japanese people can put into practice in their daily lives”
[Operating period: approximately 1 month; projected yield: 8.0% (annualized, before tax)] Launch of the “Ishigaki Island specialty products sales fund,” a regional revitalization project that brings the ‘delicious!’ flavors of Ishigaki Island to dining tables nationwide through specialty product benefits
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Summary not yet available
Facts
Operating period: approximately 1 month
Investment unit: 1 unit = 10,000 yen / 10 units or more
Beijing Watch: Cook and Bo Guagua join in mourning! “Economic czar” Zhu Rongji left “3 major political legacies”—is Beijing’s last reformer bowing out?
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji died on August 12, 2026, at the age of 98. Dubbed the “economic czar” by the West, he pushed through reforms of state-owned enterprises, fiscal and financial reforms, and helped bring China into the WTO. His death prompted reactions from many quarters, including tributes from multinational business leaders, the Japanese Embassy lowering its flag to half-mast, and a wave of nostalgia among the Chinese public.
A mythical sky-devouring dog appears to swallow the sun! Europe and the UK witness a spectacular solar eclipse, with some cities plunged into “instant darkness”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Europe and the UK witnessed their most spectacular solar eclipse in nearly 30 years, as millions watched the moon obscure the sun. A rare total eclipse in places including Spain plunged the sky into darkness, revealing the grandeur and mystery of the cosmos.
Lai Ching-te says Beidaihe ordered election interference in 2026; Hou Han-ting spots a flaw in the argument, saying it proves the DPP’s “national security system is cognitively impaired”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
賴清德, chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, said that the Chinese Communist Party had issued 4 directives on Taiwan at its Beidaihe meeting. Taipei City Councilor 侯漢廷 questioned the claim’s credibility and criticized it as “a lapse in judgment by the national security apparatus.” The remarks drew suspicions of political use for electoral purposes.
Taiwan’s stock market recovered to 46,000 points, with easing inflation seen as a positive for the market. Financial writer 狄驤 noted that a “decline” in inflation could instead pose a risk of deflation.
Intel poaches former SK海力士 CEO! 陳立武 hints in person at “returning to the memory market”: “Can you guess what I’m thinking?”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Intel CEO 陳立武 recruited 李錫熙, the former CEO of SK Hynix, signaling plans to develop new memory technology. The company’s return to the memory market is becoming increasingly plausible amid AI demand.
Han Kuang Exercise: Simulating US military transport of supplies from the east, the Second Theater Command conducts joint operations across services to ensure smooth transfer of supplies
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Taiwan’s Second Theater of Operations conducted a resupply exercise in the east by simulated U.S. forces during the Han Kuang 42 exercise. The 海軍 and 海上保安庁 jointly carried out a “joint anti-blockade escort” to secure the transport of critical supplies. The exercise strengthened coordination with civilian resources and tested wartime requisition and transportation capabilities.
South Korean government takes further action! It is raising the collateral threshold, and retail investors must take 5 days of classes before trading leveraged ETFs
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
South Korean financial authorities tightened access to single-stock leveraged ETFs for retail investors. They mandated 5 days of simulated trading and education and raised margin requirements to 3 times the previous level. The measures follow a market crash and mounting losses among small investors.
Is permanent residency in Japan getting harder to obtain? Applicants must earn above the national average and pay into the pension system for 30 years; rules could take effect as early as October
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Japanese government plans to raise the bar for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency, requiring income above the national average and 30 years of pension contributions. It is also assessing applicants’ contributions to the national interest, with the changes potentially taking effect as early as October. The move reflects concerns about the growing foreign population.
Han Kuang Exercise: Boosting survivability! Cobra helicopters escort transport aircraft as an aviation special operations team rehearses nighttime fuel and ammunition delivery
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Taiwan’s Aviation and Special Forces Command conducted a nighttime fuel and ammunition resupply drill during the Han Kuang 42 exercise. AH-1W Cobra helicopters escorted CH-47SD transport helicopters, strengthening the ability to sustain operations on the battlefield.
Can 5 million keep 兆基 in check? Deposit-taking scandal rattles rental management sector; Interior Ministry considers raising business security deposits
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
A major shareholder of 兆基屋管 is under scrutiny over suspected illegal fundraising. The Ministry of the Interior is considering raising the cap on business security deposits and assisting with the transfer of thousands of rental contracts. The target of 250,000 units remains unchanged.
Unable to dock for 250 days! Lincoln faces “moldy showers and meal rationing”; lawmakers blast Trump administration
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Lincoln has remained deployed without calling at port for more than 250 days, and deteriorating living conditions aboard the ship have come under scrutiny in Congress. Democratic lawmakers are demanding an explanation from the Trump administration.
If Attack on Titan took place in Taiwan, could the strait stop the Titans? The real reason the island is hard to invade is more than just “being separated by the sea”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Summary not yet available
Facts
About two-thirds of Taiwan’s land is mountainous or hilly.
Cathay Financial earns NT$10.8 billion in July, topping NT$10 billion for 4 consecutive months; cumulative EPS reaches NT$5.68
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
國泰金控 reported July net income after tax of NT$10.82 billion, up 20% year on year, marking 4 consecutive months with monthly profit above NT$10 billion. Cumulative profit for the first 7 months reached NT$87.34 billion, up 59.5% year on year. Strong performances across core subsidiaries, including 國泰人壽 and 國泰世華銀行, reflected a recovery in financial markets.