A new role for sweet potatoes: “the everyday dining table” — Launch of the initiative “Make sweet potatoes a staple at the dinner table! The path to becoming an ‘everyday vegetable’”
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
The Sweet Potato Expo Executive Committee has launched a new initiative, “Make sweet potatoes a staple at the dinner table! The path to becoming an ‘everyday vegetable,’” to make sweet potatoes a regular part of daily meals. It will also hold the “Winter Sweet Potato Expo 2027” in February 2027.
[Gaming and video-related product sale information] Participation in the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Nextorage株式会社 announced that it will participate in the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale and its early access sale, starting October 13, 2026, offering discounts on products including SSDs for PS5, memory cards for Switch2 and projectors.
78.3% of people who have undergone surgery for bromhidrosis say fall and winter are the best seasons｜Survey identifies 3 reasons: 2 weeks of post-surgery immobilization, less sweating and being able to cover the area with long sleeves
MonotaRO adopts PeopleX’s conversational AI interview service, “PeopleX AI Interview”
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
株式会社PeopleX announced that 株式会社MonotaRO has adopted its conversational AI interview service, “PeopleX AI Interview.” The service will initially be used to recruit part-time workers for logistics centers, with plans to expand its use to new graduate recruitment and other areas.
Facts
Capital: ¥2.048 billion (as of the end of December 2025)
Capital: ¥5,100 million (including capital reserve / as of September 2026)
[Koichian] November 29 is “Good Meat Day.” A luxurious thick sushi roll featuring sweet-and-savory simmered beef and burdock from Aomori Prefecture is here!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
株式会社古市庵プラス will launch a limited-time thick sushi roll made with sweet-and-savory simmered beef and burdock from Aomori Prefecture to mark “Good Meat Day” on November 29.
Popular YouTube creators Tokai On Air’s first solo in-person event in 3 years is coming to Blu-ray and DVD, with sales by full pre-order now open! Deliveries begin in January 2027
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
株式会社サイバーエージェント is offering Blu-ray and DVD editions featuring a solo in-person event by YouTube creators Tokai On Air, available by full pre-order, and will hold autograph sessions starting in January 2027.
Facts
A solo in-person event, held for the first time in 3 years
[Kyogoku, Hokkaido] About 20 people who happened to be there performed the haka on stage. At the first “Kyogoku NICE,” community revitalization volunteers took part in tag rugby and a haka experience
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
At “Kyogoku NICE,” an event held for the first time in Kyogoku, Hokkaido, under the community revitalization volunteer DAO solution promoted by 株式会社あるやうむ, volunteer manager Yamachu organized a tag rugby and haka experience. The event drew approximately 3,367 visitors, and about 20 people ultimately performed the haka on stage.
AnyMind Group wins 3 awards at MMA SMARTIES Philippines 2026
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
AnyMind Group won 3 awards at MMA SMARTIES Philippines 2026, held in the Philippines, including “Enabling Technology Company of the Year.” Campaigns with McDonald’s and TM that used POKKT technology also won Gold and Silver awards, marking the company’s 3rd consecutive year of winning at the awards.
[New arrival] A delicate sheer look and organic shapes take center stage! Korean designer brand “EARTHJIGU（アースジグ）” makes its long-awaited debut at 60%!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Korean designer brand “EARTHJIGU（アースジグ）” has joined the EC store “60%.” To celebrate its arrival, the store is holding a 10% off sale on all products from October 13 to 27.
メガネスーパー begins listing on “Stareco,” a personal recommendation service from hairdressers and barbers
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
メガネスーパー, operated by 株式会社インターメスティック, has begun listing on “Stapas,” a benefits service for hairdressers and barbers, and “Stareco,” a personal recommendation service, both provided by 株式会社マイクロバブル・ジャパン.
[All-you-can-eat ハーゲンダッツ in 3 flavors‼] Through 11/11! A special course is here at 3 ニラックスブッフェ locations, where you can enjoy unlimited vanilla, strawberry and cookies and cream ハーゲンダッツ ice cream!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
ニラックス株式会社 will offer a special “ハーゲンダッツ Indulgence Course” at 3 ニラックスブッフェ locations from October 15 to November 11, 2026, with unlimited servings of 3 ハーゲンダッツ ice cream flavors: vanilla, strawberry, and cookies and cream.
[Dinner at a great price! All-you-can-eat at “lunch prices”!!] Through 11/4! A special weekday-only campaign at 33 ニラックス buffet locations lets you enjoy the wide variety of all-you-can-eat options at “lunch prices” in the evening!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
ニラックス株式会社 will run a weekday-only campaign from October 15 through November 4, 2026, at 33 ニラックス buffet locations, offering all-you-can-eat dinner at lunch prices.
【All-you-can-eat Peking duck and deluxe dim sum‼】A new “Ultimate Dim Sum Feast Course” is coming to 3 locations of the diverse all-you-can-eat ニラックスブッフェ! Enjoy carefully crafted dim sum, including mozzarella soup dumplings and whole shrimp dumplings!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
ニラックス株式会社 will launch its new “Ultimate Dim Sum Feast Course” at 3 ニラックスブッフェ locations starting October 15, 2026. The course features all-you-can-eat Peking duck and carefully crafted dim sum, including mozzarella soup dumplings.
Local production of Kirin Ichiban Shibori Draft Beer begins in South Korea! Offering customers in South Korea Kirin Ichiban Shibori Draft Beer of even higher quality
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Kirin Beer will collaborate with HiteJinro社 to begin local production of Kirin Ichiban Shibori Draft Beer at the HiteJinro Jeonju plant. The beer will go on sale in the South Korean market in early October 2026, with the aim of ensuring a stable supply and improving quality.
【Exhibitor Report】レポートオーシャン株式会社 showcases healthcare market research and consulting services at BioJapan 2026
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
レポートオーシャン株式会社 exhibited at BioJapan 2026, held at Pacifico Yokohama from October 7 to 9, 2026, where it showcased market research and consulting services in the healthcare sector.
A hands-on dining report by staff from the “Chikyu no Arukikata” editorial team! An original booklet showcasing restaurants inside 汐留シティセンター is being distributed from Wednesday, September 30!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
株式会社地球の歩き方, a group company of 株式会社学研ホールディングス, has partnered with 汐留シティセンター, operated by JLLリテールマネジメント株式会社, to begin distributing an original booklet featuring reviews of restaurants in the building on September 30, 2026.
For every woman who puts herself last. Introducing “Nagikatsu,” a new bedtime routine to reset your mind in the 30 minutes before sleep.
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
The self-care brand NOCT, operated by 合同会社マイマイ企画, is introducing “Nagikatsu,” a new routine to reset your mind in the 30 minutes before sleep. Its 3 steps—lighting a candle, journaling and deep breathing—help you leave your roles behind and make time to return to yourself. A 5-piece set priced at 8,800 yen is scheduled to go on sale in November.
Facts
Women who feel they “don’t have enough time” in their daily lives*1
People who recognize their dependence on smartphones*2
Burn time: approximately 5 hours
Scheduled for release in November: 8,800 yen, tax included
株式会社デジタルベリー newly lists on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s professional market, TOKYO PRO Market
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
株式会社デジタルベリー newly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s professional market, TOKYO PRO Market, on October 8, 2026. The company operates a cross-media marketing business specializing in manufacturing and aims to list on the TSE Standard Market in the future.
Facts
A track record of supporting a total of 350 companies
About 45% want to “increase” the number of women in management, but 61.9% have no women managers or fewer than 10%
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
A survey conducted by 飯田橋・神楽坂社会保険労務士法人 found that 61.9% of companies had no women managers or had women accounting for less than 10% of management, while about 45% said they wanted to “increase” their number, revealing a gap between intentions and implementation. Challenges include a lack of candidates and increased workloads for colleagues, while implementing multiple measures is associated with a greater sense of effectiveness.
Facts
Survey of 270 companies
45.5% of companies have a low proportion of women managers
45.9% of companies have a proportion of 10% or more
42.5% “have not implemented any particular measures” to promote women’s participation
13.3% “have not implemented any particular measures”
50.4% say “the burden on other employees is increasing”
Personal gym WAPLE Minami-Urawa opens near Minami-Urawa Station | Private personal gym WAPLE expands to 26 locations nationwide
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
The personal gym brand WAPLE plans to open its 26th location nationwide, WAPLE Minami-Urawa, in November 2026, a 5-minute walk from the east exit of JR Minami-Urawa Station. It offers fully private rooms, high-quality coaching from trainers with backgrounds at RIZAP and 24/7, and cost-effective monthly plans.
Launch of cybersecurity support for businesses using local LLMs powered by DGX Spark
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
ABC株式会社 will partner with 株式会社HONU to launch a corporate cybersecurity service powered by a local LLM using NVIDIA DGX Spark, starting October 13, 2026.
The comprehensive cleaning brand おそうじ革命 will hold a YouTube live event for prospective franchisees on October 28, 2026. The Magara couple, owners just 2 months after opening, will share their candid experiences of training and the period immediately after opening.
株式会社100 launches “Excel-like Bulk Editing” as a standalone offering ahead of HubSpot’s end of support for its legacy CRM cards, and halves the implementation fee for customers switching
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Following the end of support for HubSpot’s legacy CRM cards, 株式会社100 has launched its “Excel-like Bulk Editing” app as a standalone offering and set the implementation fee at half price through a switching campaign.
Facts
The standard implementation fee, normally 300,000 yen, will be
150,000 yen (excluding tax)
Apply by the end of October 2026 to receive this offer
On the Story, which supports executive matchmaking, launches “VIP Plan,” its top-tier plan offering exclusive support to 1 company per industry! 株式会社コミクス becomes its first customer!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
株式会社オンリーストーリー has launched “VIP Plan,” its top-tier offering that provides direct support from president Hirano and is limited to 1 company per industry, to mark its 12th anniversary. 株式会社コミクス was selected as the first company to sign up.
Facts
As it marks its 12th anniversary
A 3-tier plan structure: Light, Basic and Premium
Original直近1年でオンリーストーリーに500万円程度投資し
Achieved more than 40 million yen in new orders
A strong track record of return on ad spend (ROAS of 8 times)
Support track record: 123 companies (as of Jan. 31, 2026)
Support track record: more than 270 companies (as of Jan. 31, 2026)
OriginalBtoB事業者支援実績1,438社（2025年12月26日現在）
Secure immediately deployable talent through a database of 150,000 professionals
Housing market warm in the north, cool in central and southern Taiwan; new-project sales in 6 major cities and Hsinchu hit 7-year low in first 3 quarters
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Total sales of new housing projects in the 6 major cities and Hsinchu County and City hit a 7-year low in the third quarter of 2026, with the market warm in the north and cool in central and southern Taiwan. Taipei, New Taipei and Taoyuan performed relatively well, while Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung saw steep declines.
Facts
A total of 292 new projects entered the market
Total sales amounted to NT$373.293 billion
Down 24% year over year
Total sales of new projects in the first 3 quarters were just NT$1.02 trillion
The average transaction price for new projects was NT$524,200 per ping
Total sales of new projects in the third quarter surged to NT$82.274 billion
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Pilei faces controversy over alleged refusal to attend Liu Xiaobo's award ceremony
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Pilei has sparked controversy over refusing to attend Liu Xiaobo's Nobel award ceremony in 2010, with critics calling it a stain on the laureate's record.
Facts
2026 Nobel Peace Prize
Original2010年擔任聯合國人權高專時
Original2008年至2014年擔任聯合國人權事務高級專員
Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in prison
Companies mentioned：中央社、德國之聲中文網、聯合國、挪威諾貝爾委員會、國際刑事法院、ICC、國際法院、人權觀察、Human Rights Watch、外交政策、Foreign Policy、聯合國新聞網站
High school English listening test site assignments announced; teams urged to avoid campaign noise on the 17th
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
大考中心 announced the test site assignments for the first high school English listening test of academic year 116, with about 90,900 people registered. As the exam is sensitive to noise, it urged campaign teams in all counties and cities to avoid holding rallies or broadcasting campaign messages near test sites on the 17th, to protect the testing environment.
Facts
About 90,900 people registered for this exam
First high school English listening test of academic year 116
Hai Kun submarine conducts 24th sea trial; expert says progress should not be judged solely by schedule
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The Hai Kun submarine conducted its 24th sea trial. Expert 紀東昀 said the submarine is Taiwan's first domestically designed and built prototype, with extremely challenging systems integration and facing international obstruction. Sea trials should proceed step by step with safety as the priority, and progress should not be judged solely by the schedule.
IMF forecasts double-digit economic growth for Taiwan; US expert optimistic about expanding AI boom
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The IMF sharply raised its forecast for Taiwan's economic growth in 2026 to 10.7%. US expert 拉費洛夫 is optimistic about the expanding AI market and stressed the need for close cooperation among Taiwan, the United States and other countries.
Facts
Annual growth forecast raised to an unprecedented double-digit 10.7%
Global economic growth forecast at 3.1% in 2026
Original半年間由5.2%調高至10.7%
Taiwan and South Korea account for 62% of the global AI hardware industry
緯創 attends OCP summit, focusing on next-generation AI factory systems
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
緯創 and 緯穎 joined the 2026 OCP Global Summit, focusing on next-generation AI factory systems and showcasing the NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 platform and CMX contextual memory storage technology. 緯創's third-quarter consolidated revenue reached NT$1.15 trillion, buoyed by demand for AI servers.
Facts
October 12 to 15
2026
Integrates 72 NVIDIA Rubin graphics processors
36 NVIDIA Vera central processors
Each rack can support more than 22,500 concurrent execution environments
Improves efficiency by 2 times
Consolidated revenue reached NT$1.15 trillion in the third quarter this year
Up more than 27% quarter over quarter
More than 1 times higher year over year
Consolidated revenue totaled NT$2.89 trillion in the first 3 quarters
Chip stocks face selling pressure; South Korean stocks plunge 6% intraday, falling below 6,000 points
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Amid concerns over AI investment, chip stocks were sold off, sending South Korea's KOSPI index down more than 6% and below 6,000 points. SK海力士 and 三星電子 shares tumbled.
Stocks and currency both battered; Taiwan stocks plunge more than 1,000 points, Taiwan dollar falls below 32
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and losses on Wall Street, Taiwan's stock and currency markets both slumped. Taiwan stocks fell more than 1,000 points at one stage in morning trading, while the Taiwan dollar fell below 32 per US dollar.
IMF estimates Taiwan’s economic growth will exceed 10% this year, leading Asia-Pacific and making it a rare case of double-digit growth globally
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
IMF released its latest World Economic Outlook report, sharply raising its forecast for Taiwan’s real GDP growth this year to 10.7%, the highest in the Asia-Pacific region and a rare case of double-digit growth globally. It also forecast annual CPI growth of 2.0% and an unemployment rate of 3.4%, and said Taiwan and South Korea account for 62% of global trade in AI cloud-computing hardware.
China sanctions officials from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies; Cho Jung-tai says hegemonic mindset has drawn global resentment
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
China imposed sanctions on officials from Paraguay and Belize. Premier Cho Jung-tai criticized the move as reflecting a hegemonic mindset and stressed that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign, independent country and the People’s Republic of China has no right to interfere.
Facts
Two Foreign Ministry orders
China’s Foreign Ministry issued [the orders] on the 12th
Major oil and gas well blowout in Niger causes serious environmental accident; authorities rule out terrorism
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Niger’s Oil Ministry said a major blowout occurred at the Goumeri W8 oil well in the east, causing a serious environmental accident. Some of the damage is now under control, terrorism has been ruled out, and experts from Algeria are assisting with the investigation. The field is operated by 中油國際（尼日爾）.
愛普 prices GDR offering at a 5.22% discount, raising $416 million to fund foreign-currency material purchases
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
愛普科技 completed a GDR offering at a 5.22% discount, raising $416 million to fund foreign-currency material purchases. September revenue hit a record NT$1.19 billion.
U.S. President Trump defended a diesel supply deal with Russia, criticizing lawmakers from both parties who questioned whether it violated laws banning imports of Russian energy. Bipartisan senators called for the deal to be withdrawn, saying it would fund Putin. Trump blamed Ukrainian airstrikes on refineries for rising oil prices and stressed that restricting oil would have a serious impact globally.
Facts
The amount of diesel Russia can supply over the next 3 months
Equivalent to only about 12 hours of global diesel consumption
Diesel prices have surged more than 60%
Since the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran 7 months ago
6 Chinese military vessels and 4 aircraft sorties near Taiwan; military maintains close surveillance
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The Ministry of National Defense released details of Chinese military aircraft and vessels. From 6 a.m. yesterday to 6 a.m. today, it detected 6 Chinese military vessels, 4 government ships and 5 sorties by Chinese military aircraft. Four of the aircraft sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and intruded into central and southwestern airspace. Taiwan’s military maintained close surveillance and responded.
台積電 falls NT$40; Taiwan stocks plunge 900 points in early trading, falling below the 49000-point threshold
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Dragged down by a series of declines in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, Taiwan stocks plunged in early trading, falling below the 49000-point threshold. 台積電, 聯發科 and 台達電 led declines among heavyweight stocks. Institutional investors said Taiwan’s August export orders exceeded US$100 billion, which could support the market.
Trump suddenly calls for energy ceasefire; Ukraine says continued Russian airstrikes show Moscow has no intention of accepting it
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia’s continued airstrikes on energy facilities show it has no intention of accepting the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Trump. The European Union approved a new round of sanctions, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that pressure must be maintained to bring Russia to the negotiating table. The Kremlin rejected a comprehensive 60-day ceasefire proposal.
Facts
At least 6 energy targets hit
1569 individuals and companies added to the sanctions list
North Korea confirms test launch of tactical ballistic missile to upgrade core component technology
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
North Korean state media confirmed a test launch of a tactical ballistic missile to verify upgrades to core component technology. The U.S., Japanese and South Korean militaries detected different numbers of projectiles and heightened their alert levels.
華爾街日報: China's vicious debt cycle weighs on economic growth and affects the world
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
華爾街日報 reported that credit to China’s nonfinancial sector has exceeded 300% of GDP, with rapidly rising debt weighing on economic growth and affecting the world. Although the Chinese government says debt is manageable, high debts held by local government financing vehicles and companies are leading to wasted resources and dumping of exports, with the annual trade surplus surpassing $1 trillion. Experts say that unless China changes its growth model, which relies on investment and exports, its financial system will gradually decline.
Facts
Already exceeded 300% of gross domestic product (GDP) last year
60 percentage points higher than at the end of 2019
China's credit has grown by more than $43 trillion since Xi Jinping took power in late 2012
Pushing China's annual trade surplus with the rest of the world above $1 trillion
Central government borrowing accounts for only about 30% of GDP
A broader measure of China's total government debt climbed to 127% of GDP last year
Higher than 98% in 2020
Last year, Chinese corporate debt as a share of GDP was twice the global average
Last year, the median borrowing rate for publicly listed Chinese manufacturing companies was about 2.4%
Household consumption accounted for about 40% of China's GDP in 2024
In the United States, it was close to 70%
China's GDP grew 4.3% year over year in Q2 this year
New York Times, The Economist and other media join coalition to prevent AI from using news content without authorization
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The New York Times, The Economist, Agence France-Presse and other media organizations announced they had joined the Standards for Publisher Usage Rights (SPUR) coalition, which comprises more than 40 publishers across more than 20 countries, with more than 80 members. It aims to prevent AI companies from using news content without authorization to train models. The Atlantic in the United States and the Brazilian National Newspaper Association are also new members. Founding members include the Financial Times, BBC and Associated Press. The publishing industry is fighting AI copyright infringement through legal action. USA Today has filed a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI, while OpenAI and Microsoft also face similar allegations from multiple authors and media organizations.
Facts
A coalition comprising more than 40 publishers
It now has more than 80 members from over 20 countries
Traffic from Google organic search fell 33% across more than 2,500 websites worldwide
From Nov. 2024 to Nov. 2025
Companies mentioned：紐約時報 (The New York Times)、法新社 (AFP)、經濟學人 (The Economist)、大西洋月刊 (The Atlantic)、巴西全國報業協會 (National Association of Newspapers)、金融時報 (Financial Times)、英國廣播公司 (BBC)、美聯社 (AP)、今日美國報 (USA Today)、OpenAI、微軟 (Microsoft)、路透社 (Reuters)、路透新聞學研究所 (Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism)、Chartbeat、Google
Vietnam PM travels to counter China's coercive posture, joins Cambodia and Laos in launching joint military exercises among 3 countries
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung visited Laos and Cambodia, signed nearly 40 economic cooperation documents and launched joint military exercises among 3 countries, aiming to deepen defense and security mechanisms to counter China's military expansion in the region.
Most Greenland lawmakers back U.S. security agreement; opposition questions economic benefits
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Greenland's parliament debated a security agreement with the United States. Most lawmakers supported it, while the opposition questioned its economic benefits and said details were vague.
中油: Oil and gas supplies secure through year-end; next year's Q1 purchases planned in advance
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
中油 said it had secured additional crude oil from outside the Middle East and adjusted shipping schedules in response to heightened tensions in the Middle East and transport risks, ensuring domestic oil and gas supplies remain secure through year-end. It has also planned next year's Q1 purchases in advance.
Facts
Supplies are currently secure through year-end
Purchases for next year's Q1 have been planned in advance
After the U.S.-Iran conflict broke out in March this year
Saudi Arabian Oil Company 沙烏地阿拉伯國家石油公司 in mid-September
Unable to supply term-contract crude oil for September and October
Aftershocks continue after major quake; another magnitude 6.0 earthquake reported in Panama
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Panama was hit by another magnitude 6.0 earthquake on the 12th, after a magnitude 7.7 quake. The latest quake had a depth of 35 kilometers. The earlier major quake injured at least 27 people and damaged nearly 900 homes, prompting the government to declare a national state of emergency.
Beitou records a low of 16.7 degrees at dawn; Wu Der-Rong: Autumn-tiger weather pattern from 10/16
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The low in Beitou's flatlands was 16.7 degrees Celsius at dawn. Weather expert Wu Der-Rong said an autumn-tiger weather pattern would set in from 10/16 to 19, with little moisture and a wide day-night temperature range.
Philadelphia Semiconductor Index extends losses; analysts: Taiwan stocks may retest 49000 in short term
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell for 4 consecutive days, and analysts forecast that Taiwan stocks may retest 49000 in the short term. However, Taiwan's August export orders topped US$100 billion for the first time, providing support for the market with strong order momentum.
Rhode Island giant pumpkin weighs 1431.5 kilograms, aims to set 金氏世界紀錄
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Wallace, a man from Rhode Island in the United States, grew a giant pumpkin weighing 1431.5 kilograms that could break the 金氏世界紀錄 held by Britain's Paton.
'Breaking Bad' actor RJ Mitte dies at 34; was a passionate advocate for disability rights
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Actor RJ Mitte, who rose to fame for his role in the series 'Breaking Bad,' has died at 34. His management team confirmed that he had cerebral palsy and was an active advocate for disability rights.
〈Real Estate〉Buyers and sellers alike move toward suburban areas as housing market trend becomes 'towns encircling cities'
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Data from 591 show that average asking prices for new projects outside the 7 major cities and counties rose 2.61% year over year in the first 8 months of this year, while the number of listings online jumped 25.6%, reflecting a trend of 'towns encircling cities' in the housing market. Meanwhile, the central bank eased credit controls and held rates steady, easing pressure on funds.
Facts
Average asking prices for new projects outside the 7 major cities and counties rose 2.61% year over year in the first 8 months of this year
Average asking prices for new projects in Tainan fell 1.62% year over year
The number of listings online in Hsinchu County and City rose 30.4%
Original央行將自然人第二戶貸款拉高到7成
The central bank decided to freeze interest rates for 10 consecutive meetings
逸達's late-stage prostate cancer drug approved by China's NMPA; partner to advance commercialization in China
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
逸達 (6576-TW) announced that its licensing partner 長春金賽藥業 had received approval from China's NMPA to market CAMCEVI 42 mg. The drug is used to treat late-stage prostate cancer. The approval marks important progress in 逸達's commercialization efforts in China, and an application for another indication is also under review.
Facts
CAMCEVI 42 mg is a ready-to-use, 6-month subcutaneous injection of leuprolide mesylate, a long-acting sustained-release formulation for treating advanced prostate cancer in adults.
CAMCEVI has been exclusively licensed to 金賽藥業 for commercialization in China, covering advanced prostate cancer, central precocious puberty in children (CPP), and premenopausal breast cancer.
愛普* completes GDR pricing at NT$898 per share, at a discount of about 5%, raising US$416 million to meet procurement needs
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
愛普*(6531-TW) announced the completion of its GDR pricing, raising US$416 million at a discount of about 5.22% to fund foreign-currency purchases of materials.
Facts
愛普* completed its GDR pricing, raising a total of US$416 million.
The issue price per GDR is US$56.15, equivalent to about NT$898 per share.
The GDR issue price is at a discount of about 5.22% to the closing price of NT$947 on the 12th.
愛普*'s September revenue reached NT$1.19 billion, a record high and up 90% year over year.
A total of 7.4 million GDRs will be issued and are expected to be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
愛普* was 5 times oversubscribed, attracting participation from several internationally renowned investors.
愛普*'s S-SiCap IPD products officially entered mass production and shipment in the second quarter of this year.
Rear wheel falls off while driving! 奇瑞 apologizes, recalls 8,878 OMODA 5 vehicles
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
奇瑞汽車 apologized and announced a recall of 8,878 vehicles after a rear wheel fell off an OMODA 5 in Malaysia due to insufficient weld strength on the rear axle. The company also launched a preventive inspection of the same production batch worldwide to control risks and address regulatory requirements.
Facts
A 2023 OMODA 5 in Malaysia suffered a tear in the rear trailing arm while driving, causing the rear axle and both rear wheels to detach from the vehicle.
An investigation by 奇瑞 found that vehicles in the batch may have insufficient weld strength at some locations on the rear trailing arm.
奇瑞馬來西亞子公司 has launched a recall of 8,878 affected OMODA 5 vehicles.
The OMODA 5 was recalled in Malaysia in April 2024 over a welding quality defect, affecting 600 vehicles.
The OMODA 5 has been sold in more than 40 countries worldwide, with cumulative sales exceeding 250,000 vehicles.
By the end of 2025, 奇瑞's cumulative vehicle sales in Malaysia reached 30,073.
雷虎 joined 波音, 洛克希德馬丁, BAE Systems and General Dynamics in the four-star (4-Star) sponsorship tier.
雷虎 is building scalable autonomous mass-production capabilities and leveraging the competitive advantages of its “non-red supply chain” and “Made in Taiwan” to pursue US military procurement.
The PAPADELTA drone integrates the ULTRABUGGY UGV ground vehicle and a pneumatic launch system, enabling mobile deployment while on the move.
The SeaShark 600 unmanned surface vessel is equipped with the ACS Bullfrog precision firing system and an AV Switchblade four-round spring-loaded launcher.
The OVERKILL FPV has obtained US Department of Defense Blue UAS certification.
The Bullfrog system was also demonstrated on the ULTRABUGGY UGV, validating the use of a shared weapons module across land and sea vehicles.
Companies mentioned：雷虎、波音、洛克希德馬丁、BAE Systems、General Dynamics、Allen Control Systems、AeroVironment、Auterion、中科院
Real estate: Total value of new projects launched in Taiwan’s seven major cities in the first 1-3 quarters hits a 7-year low; market research firm says housing market is undergoing a “correction in both prices and volume”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
A market research firm said the total value of new housing projects launched across Taiwan in the third quarter of 2026 hit a nearly 7-year low for the same period, with the housing market entering a consolidation phase marked by a “correction in both prices and volume.” Northern areas such as Taipei and New Taipei proved more resilient, while central and southern Taiwan were hit hard by the withdrawal of capital, with Tainan particularly affected and new project launches shrinking sharply.
Facts
A total of 292 new projects entered the market in the six municipalities and Hsinchu County and City in the third quarter of 2026, with a combined value of NT$373.293 billion, down 2% quarter over quarter and 24% year over year.
The total value of new housing projects launched across Taiwan in the first 1-3 quarters of this year was just NT$1.02 trillion, a record low for the same period in nearly 7 years.
As developers sharply hit the brakes on new launches in Tainan, the total value of projects launched in the quarter plunged to NT$9.524 billion, just one-tenth of the level in the same period last year.
Kaohsiung's negotiation rate widened sharply to 10.3%, making it the only county or city in Taiwan where the room for negotiation exceeded 1 tenth.
The negotiation rate across Taiwan edged up to 7.1% this quarter, indicating that sellers are gradually offering greater discounts to move inventory.
The total value of new projects in Taoyuan in the third quarter reached NT$77.961 billion, up 50% quarter over quarter and 10% year over year; the average transaction price rose 4% year over year against the trend, to NT$383,100.
Middle East conflict drives oil prices above US$90; CPC's response plan: no need to worry before year-end, with Q1 purchases already arranged
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Oil prices have surged amid conflict in the Middle East. CPC Taiwan said diversified procurement and supply arrangements would ensure adequate supply through year-end, and that purchases for Q1 next year had already been arranged. It is also cooperating with the government’s freeze on fuel price increases to stabilize people’s livelihoods.
Facts
International crude oil prices have climbed to more than US$90 a barrel.
CPC Taiwan has made advance plans for its procurement volume in the first quarter of 2027.
Since the US-Iran conflict broke out in March 2026, CPC Taiwan has procured alternative crude oil from outside the Middle East.
沙烏地阿拉伯Aramco公司's East-West Pipeline was attacked, preventing it from supplying term-contract crude cargoes for September and October.
CPC Taiwan is cooperating with government policy to freeze or slow increases in prices of major oil and gas products.
Taiwan stocks open: Heavyweight tech shares come under pressure as 台積電 battles to defend NT$2,500; index drops more than 900 points in early trading
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Taipei stocks fell more than 900 points at one point in early trading on the 13th, dragged down by weakness in international semiconductor shares and markets in Japan and South Korea. 台積電 fell 1.57% in early trading, battling to defend NT$2,500, as heavyweight tech stocks came under broad pressure; only financial shares bucked the trend.
Facts
Taipei's weighted index fell more than 900 points at one point in early trading on the 13th, again dropping below 49,000.
台積電(2330-TW) fell 1.57% in early trading, facing a battle to defend the NT$2,500 level.
The electronics subindex fell 1.61%, accounting for about 74% of trading value; financial shares rose 0.22%, accounting for about 1.4%.
Brent crude prices topped US$106 a barrel.
Taiwan's main stock market opened at 49,126.29 on the 13th, with the intraday low reaching 48,401.13.
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 335.63 points, or 2.67%.
War windfall continues to flow through as global VLCC freight rates hit a 60-year high
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Escalating US-Iran tensions have boosted energy and shipping profits, sending global VLCC freight rates to a 60-year high. Secondhand vessel prices have inverted amid immediate demand for operating capacity, while crew wages have risen structurally, with further upside expected over the next 2 years.
Facts
Global very large crude carrier (VLCC) freight rates have surged to their highest level in 60 years.
For example, freight on a tanker departing Saudi Arabia in September for the Netherlands works out to a crude oil transportation cost of US$35 per barrel.
Monthly salaries for some tanker captains sailing through the Strait of Hormuz have risen to US$100,000.
Prices for some secondhand very large crude carriers around 10 years old have topped US$150 million.
國際勞工組織 reached a global agreement on a unified wage increase: the minimum wage for skilled seafarers will rise to US$690 per month starting Jan. 1, 2026.
A very large crude carrier can transport about 2 million barrels of crude oil per voyage, with long-distance transportation costs per barrel more than 40% lower than those of medium- and small-sized tankers.
Taiwan stocks premarket: Index plunges 544 points before a stunning reversal! Shipping and financial shares join forces to fend off bears and hold 49K; investor-to-book ratio highlights 長科*, 精測 and 大立光
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Taiwan stocks plunged 544 points to 48,768 in early trading on Oct. 12 amid multiple negative factors, then staged a stunning reversal as heavyweight shares including 大立光, 長榮 and 富邦金 provided support, closing at 49,301. Container shipping, semiconductor packaging and testing materials, and financial holding companies performed strongly, while cleanroom engineering, silicon wafers and specialty foundry services were weak.
Facts
Taiwan stocks plunged as much as 544.62 points to 48,768.82 in early trading on Monday (10/12), before closing at 49,301.96, down 11.48 points (-0.02%).
The share prices of the three major container shipping companies, 長榮, 萬海 and 陽明, surged 9.89%, 8.52% and 6.53%, respectively.
Financial holding companies rose an average of about 2.73%, with all 13 benchmark stocks closing higher. 富邦金 surged 3.59%.
The cleanroom engineering sector fell an average of 2.87%, while 聖暉 plunged 9.61%.
World’s 4th-largest central bank gold buyer turns seller; gold’s share of reserves to fall to 75% by year-end
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
A deputy governor of Kazakhstan’s central bank said the bank plans to reduce gold’s share of its reserves from 78% to 75% by year-end, as rising U.S. Treasury yields make dollar assets more attractive. The move is aimed at optimizing the allocation of foreign exchange reserves and ensuring liquidity.
Facts
Kazakhstan’s central bank plans to cut gold’s share of foreign exchange reserves from 78% to 75% by year-end
Half of Kazakhstan’s central bank’s planned reduction in gold holdings will be carried out through the sale of gold-related options
Kazakhstan’s foreign exchange reserves stood at US$66.4 billion at the end of September this year
Kazakhstan is the world’s eighth-largest gold producer
Gold prices have fallen by about one-fifth since war broke out between the United States and Iran at the end of February this year
美光 boosts share buybacks! Ban lifted after 2 years; analyst says it is more generous than peers in rewarding shareholders, with further expansion possible
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
美光’s board increased the total authorization for share buybacks to US$35.16 billion. Analysts say this shows 美光 is more committed to shareholder returns than its peers, with room for further expansion.
Facts
美光’s board has authorized an additional US$33 billion share buyback program, bringing the total authorization to US$35.16 billion.
美光 received funding under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act in 2024 and was therefore restricted from buying back its own shares again until December this year.
TD Cowen analyst Krish Sankar said 美光 has shown itself to be more willing than its peers to reward shareholders.
美光’s current share buyback authorization of about US$35.16 billion remains below the roughly US$47 billion in gross profit it reported in its most recent quarter.
Through the 2nd quarter of the current fiscal year, 輝達 has accounted for more than 10% of 美光’s quarterly revenue for six consecutive quarters.
Yemen’s Houthis strike Saudi capital’s airport again, attack air base
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed on the 12th that they had successfully attacked the airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, and an air base in the southwest. The attacks prompted retaliation by the Saudi-led coalition and full support for Yemen’s government forces, and led to warnings that most Saudi airports were unsafe areas.
Facts
The Houthis fired a ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, on the 12th.
The Houthis launched drones at King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia and hit their target.
A Houthi spokesperson warned that all Saudi airports and airspace except those serving Mecca and Medina were unsafe.
The Saudi-led multinational coalition is conducting a large-scale military operation against Houthi personnel and military capabilities.
The multinational coalition is providing round-the-clock air support to Yemen’s government forces.
【Stock Market Focus】台積電 price target raised to NT$4,410! 新光證券: These 3 conditions are essential
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
新光證券 analysts found a wide range of price targets for 台積電 ahead of its earnings conference, with the highest reaching NT$4,410. Achieving that target would require 2027 revenue to exceed consensus, a gross margin of 69% and a price-to-earnings ratio of 30 times.
Facts
新光證券 sets a high-end price target of NT$4,410 for 台積電, implying potential upside of 73.6%
The NT$4,410 price target requires 2027 revenue to exceed market consensus and gross margin to top 69%
Analysts have divergent views on 台積電’s price target, with estimates ranging from NT$3,088 to NT$4,410
台積電 closed at NT$2,540 on October 12
The market’s willingness to assign a price-to-earnings ratio close to 30 times is one of the conditions needed to support a high-end price target
Exports surge 1,220%! Shenzhen robot makers accelerate overseas expansion, with 3 major categories including cleaning robots posting marked gains
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Shenzhen Customs data show that robot exports reached 11.13 billion yuan in the first 8 months of this year, up 12.2 times year over year. Exports of cleaning, industrial and surgical robots were strong, while embodied AI robots emerged as a new growth driver, with products primarily targeting European and U.S. markets.
Facts
Shenzhen exported a total of 11.13 billion yuan worth of robots across categories in the first 8 months of this year, up 12.2 times year over year.
More than 10,000 robot export customs declarations are filed each month, up 40% year over year.
A company executive said robot exports account for more than four-fifths of the company’s total revenue.
Original另一家企業今年上半年海外營收較去年同期成長超過90%。
Exports of various products, including cleaning, industrial and surgical robots, are growing strongly.
輝達 and 思科 announced on the 12th that they are jointly introducing the USFP optical module standard, which supports a single-lane rate of 400Gb/s and increases bandwidth density by 4 times. They are also working with TE Connectivity and 安費諾 to build a supply chain and address network bottlenecks in AI factories.
Facts
輝達 and 思科 announced the launch of USFP, a new-generation, ultra-high-density pluggable optical module standard.
The first planned USFP product supports a single-lane electrical signal rate of 400Gb/s, with bandwidth density 4 times higher than existing solutions.
USFP will work with TE Connectivity and 安費諾 (Amphenol) to build a hardware ecosystem.
The first USFP product integrates 16 full-duplex lanes in the same module size, achieving an aggregate capacity of 6.4Tb/s.
Designed for high-density deployments, USFP supports power consumption of up to 100 watts without requiring a dedicated cooling loop.
USFP uses a new two-dimensional array connector and a two-stage insertion mechanism to improve signal integrity.
輝達 and 思科 plan to advance USFP as an open industry standard through a community-led project.
Yemen’s Houthis: Saudi Arabia carried out 119 attacks in 24 hours
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed that Saudi Arabia carried out 119 airstrikes in multiple parts of Yemen within 24 hours, bringing the total to 2,177 and causing civilian casualties. The Saudi-led coalition said it was taking action to dismantle the Houthis’ military capabilities.
Facts
Saudi Arabia carried out 119 airstrikes and missile attacks on Yemen in the past 24 hours
Saudi Arabia used F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets and missiles in the attacks
Saudi Arabia has carried out a total of 2,177 airstrikes on Yemen since the conflict escalated
Saudi attacks destroyed civilian facilities and caused civilian casualties
The Saudi-led coalition aims to dismantle the Houthis’ ballistic missile network
SpaceX is the exception! Musk says China’s manufacturing capacity is hard to match outside the space sector
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Musk said on the 12th that China’s capacity to scale up production of products such as lithium batteries and solar panels has surpassed the rest of the world combined. He described SpaceX as the sole exception in the space sector, saying that excluding SpaceX, most space cargo actually comes from China.
Facts
Musk said China’s ability to scale up production often exceeds the combined capacity of the rest of the world
China has demonstrated an advantage in scaling up production of lithium batteries and solar panels
SpaceX sends about ten times as much cargo mass into orbit as all other countries combined
Excluding SpaceX, most cargo sent into orbit comes from China
Global smartphone shipments plunge 20%, marking the worst 3rd quarter in 14 years; memory shortage blamed
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Counterpoint Research said global smartphone shipments fell 20% year over year in the 3rd quarter of 2026, their lowest level in 14 years, mainly because of memory shortages and resources being diverted to AI infrastructure. Samsung led with a 23% market share, while 蘋果 rose to 22%. Shipments by Chinese brands such as 小米 plunged by more than 30%, prompting the industry to focus on premium products and maintaining profitability.
Facts
Global smartphone shipments fell 20% year over year in the 3rd quarter of 2026
三星電子 had a 23% market share in the 3rd quarter
蘋果’s market share climbed to 22% in the 3rd quarter
小米’s shipments fell by more than 30% year over year in the 3rd quarter
Tight supplies of memory chips were the main cause of the decline in shipments
OPPO and vivo both saw shipments fall by more than 20% in the 3rd quarter
The wave of humanoid robots entering factories is here！Shanghai sets a target of 8,000 units and plans to bring AI across production lines
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
At the 26th China International Industry Fair, Shanghai launched a new smart manufacturing initiative, aiming to deploy 8,000 humanoid robots by 2028 and cultivate 500 advanced smart factories. It also announced 30 industrial clusters valued at hundreds of billions of yuan, accelerating the integration of AI and manufacturing。
Facts
Shanghai plans to bring 8,000 humanoid robots into factories by 2028。
Shanghai aims to cultivate 500 advanced smart factories。
Shanghai plans to expand AI applications in manufacturing to more than 2,000 use cases。
節卡機器人’s JAKA Kargo50 cut the time to handle each box from 105 seconds to 28 seconds at a smart headlight factory operated by a major auto-parts company。
Shipments of 地瓜機器人’s Sunrise series chips have exceeded 8 million units。
Shanghai aims to grow the AI-enabled smart manufacturing equipment industry to more than 2,000億元 in value。
黑湖科技’s engineering agent can analyze drawings and manufacturing processes in about 1 minute, with an accuracy rate of around 95%。
Trump：Putin is more eager than Zelensky to reach a deal；the two should meet to end this “absurd war”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 12th that Russian President Vladimir Putin was more interested than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in resolving the conflict, and called on the two to meet to end the war. Trump said both sides had lost 32,000 people this month, and suggested Zelensky focus on an agreement and consider holding an election。
Facts
U.S. President Donald Trump made remarks about the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the 12th。
Trump believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is more interested than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in resolving the conflict。
Trump called on Zelensky and Putin to meet to end the war。
Trump said Russia and Ukraine had lost 32,000 people this month。
Trump believes Zelensky should hold an election in Ukraine。
The Oct. 13, 2026 U.S. stock market news roundup focuses on competition in memory chips（美光 fell 3.9%）, new developments in AI models and chips（Meta Muse, 英特爾’s new GPU, and 微軟 Maia 300）, and 博通’s CEO warning about difficulties securing AI funding。
Facts
美光 shares fell 3.9% on Monday, weighing on memory chip peers
長鑫存儲 in China has made progress in developing new chips capable of storing more data
Meta released two AI models, Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full, on Monday
Meta said Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full are competitive with top products from OpenAI and Anthropic
英特爾 launched the Intel GPU D-Series processor, designed for AI inference
微軟 unveiled Maia 300, its third-generation in-house AI chip, and plans to deploy possibly more than 1 million units next year
博通 CEO Hock Tan said access to funding has become the biggest constraint on AI growth
Revenue Flash：September revenue roundup for major Taiwan-listed companies, Oct. 13, 2026（175 companies added）
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
This article compiles September revenue data announced on Oct. 13, 2026, for 227 major Taiwan-listed companies with capital of at least 5 billion. It lists the top 3 and top 5 companies by year-over-year and month-over-month growth, and tallies the number of companies reporting positive and negative year-over-year growth。
Facts
As of Oct. 13, 2026, a total of 227 major Taiwan-listed companies with capital of at least 5 billion had reported September revenue。
潤隆 ranked first for September revenue growth year over year, at 63462.8%。
台汽電 ranked second for September revenue growth year over year, at 1114.1%。
華建 ranked first for September revenue growth month over month, at 2920.8%。
和碩 ranked second for September revenue growth month over month, at 143.2%。
A total of 90 companies recorded September revenue growth of more than 25% year over year。
A total of 18 companies recorded September revenue declines of more than 20% year over year。
AI is reshaping semiconductor staffing！應材 forecasts revenue to double without doubling headcount, opens new $5 billion EPIC facility
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
應用材料 forecast that revenue would double without an increase in headcount, thanks to efficiency gains from the widespread use of AI. It also invested $5 billion in opening EPIC Center and is working with major companies such as 台積電 to accelerate semiconductor research and development。
Facts
應用材料 expects revenue to double over the next few years, while its employee headcount will not increase accordingly。
應用材料 invested $5 billion to build EPIC Center to accelerate semiconductor research and development。
Original應用材料截至7月底約有3萬8,900名員工。
AI has already boosted productivity significantly in some fields, by about 50%。
EPIC Center is located in Sunnyvale, California, and covers 600,000 square feet。
Has gold passed its worst？瑞銀：A retreat in Treasury yields will fuel a gold recovery
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
瑞銀 said in a report that gold had fallen amid expectations of a hawkish Federal Reserve, but that the market had already priced in some of the negative factors. With the labor market cooling and yields retreating, a rebound in gold may be on the horizon. The bank recommended watching for prices to stabilize in the $4,140-to-$4,200 range。
Facts
Gold prices have fallen about 5% cumulatively since early September
The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rose from about 4.8% to above 5.3%
Gold fell from more than $4,400 per ounce to about $4,140
瑞銀 considers $3,990 to $4,030 per ounce an important near-term support range for gold
After Treasury yields peaked and retreated in October 2023, gold rose about 5.9% in 69 calendar days
After its April 2024 peak, gold rose about 11.4% in 144 calendar days
After yields retreated from their peak in January 2025, gold rebounded about 14.4% in 81 calendar days
Goldman says the yuan is severely undervalued, forecasts it will rise to 6.4 per dollar within a year
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Kamakshya Trivedi, head of foreign exchange strategy at 高盛集團, said the yuan was undervalued by 20%-25% and forecast it would rise to 6.40 per dollar within a year. The view is based on China’s huge trade surplus and the need to maintain stable trade relations；a gradual appreciation could help internationalize the yuan。
Facts
Kamakshya Trivedi, head of foreign exchange strategy at 高盛集團, said the yuan is currently undervalued by about 20% to 25%。
Goldman expects the yuan to rise against the U.S. dollar from about 6.69 to 6.40 over the next year。
China’s trade surplus reached $805.5 billion in the first eight months of this year。
The last time the yuan came close to 6 per U.S. dollar was in early 2014。
The yuan has gained more than 8% against the euro so far this year。
Funding crunch！英特爾 and 博通 warn financing is AI’s biggest bottleneck as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index hits a three-month low
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 2.7% on Monday. The CEOs of 英特爾 and 博通 warned that financing channels could become the biggest bottleneck for AI development, as demand for infrastructure continues to exceed supply。
Facts
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 2.7% on Monday
閃迪 shares fell nearly 6%
英特爾 shares fell 3.2%
博通 CEO Hock Tan believes financing could be the biggest constraint
Demand for computing infrastructure continues to exceed supply
Trump hints at meeting Kim Jong Un next month, calls prospect “exciting”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
U.S. President Donald Trump hinted that he might meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during an upcoming trip to Asia, prompting speculation. Despite U.S.-South Korea relations being at a sensitive point over trade and security issues, and North Korea continuing missile tests, Trump expressed a willingness to pursue a meeting。
Facts
Trump hints he may meet Kim Jong Un during his Asia trip
Trump is scheduled to attend the APEC summit in Shenzhen next month
North Korea launches ballistic missiles for the fourth time in about a month
Trump threatens trade penalties if South Korea fails to fulfill its Alaska LNG investment pledge
Trump orders a reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea
Intel unveils new GPU chip to challenge Nvidia as it pushes to transform itself for the AI era
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Intel has launched its GPU D-Series chips, designed for AI inference, and is working with 華碩, HPE and others to bring them to market. Buoyed by rising CPU demand driven by the growth of AI agents, Intel shares have surged 183% this year, but the company faces competitive pressure from AMD and CPUs based on the ARM architecture.
Facts
Intel has launched its GPU D-Series processors, designed for AI inference.
Intel D-Series GPUs are deployed through PCIe expansion cards.
Intel shares are up 183% so far this year.
Intel is working with 華碩, HPE, Dell Technologies, Supermicro and other companies to bring D-Series systems to market.
AMD is rapidly increasing the share of its revenue generated by the data center market.
Qualcomm has introduced its own Arm-based CPUs, AI accelerators, memory products and networking technology.
Tasks performed by AI agents require CPUs.
Nvidia has decided to launch standalone CPU racks powered by Grace chips.
Oil prices tied to U.S. election outlook! Prediction markets put odds of Democrats sweeping both chambers at 65%, raising fears of a U.S. stock market drop
What is Taiwan's “most popular boys' name”? It's not Chia-hao or Kuan-ting! The top name belongs to more than 4,000 people. Is yours on the list?
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Statistics from the Ministry of the Interior's Department of Household Registration show that the most common boys' name in Taiwan is “Chen Kuan-yu,” shared by more than 4,000 people. The article looks back at changes in naming trends from the postwar period to the present, reflecting the evolution of social values.
Facts
Chen is Taiwan's most common surname, with a population of more than 2.6 million.
In the fourth and fifth decades of the Republic of China calendar, Taiwanese parents tended to favor the characters “雄、豪、明、德、志、忠” for boys' names.
In the seventh and eighth decades of the Republic of China calendar, popular characters for names included “宇、翔、冠、廷、柏”.
In recent years, characters such as “承、恩、宥、碩、睿、宸” have surged in popularity among a new generation of parents.
Will a NT$1 million cancer insurance payout suspend your farmers' allowance? The NT$500,000 means-testing threshold does not include all income
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
This article explains that cancer insurance payouts are generally excluded from the income assessment used to determine eligibility for the farmers' allowance, while overseas investment income must still be included. It also explains that the 2026 review uses 2024 data and that the means test includes an income threshold of NT$500,000 and a real estate value limit of NT$5 million.
Facts
Personal insurance benefits are generally excluded from the income calculation used to determine eligibility for the farmers' allowance.
Overseas interest and investment income must be included in the income calculation for the farmers' allowance means test.
The 2026 income review for the farmers' allowance is based on 2024 income.
The means-testing system for the farmers' allowance took effect on Jan. 1, 2013.
A sole owner-occupied home can be deducted from the real estate means test up to a maximum of NT$4 million.
Government hands out Double Ninth Festival gifts! Seniors in 4 counties and cities can collect up to NT$70,000 per person today; see amounts and payment dates
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The 2026 Double Ninth Festival senior-citizen grants will be distributed in Taoyuan, Miaoli, Yilan and Chiayi counties and cities starting Oct. 13. A centenarian in Nan'ao Township, Yilan County, will receive a combined bonus of NT$70,000, a record high; other areas will provide grants ranging from NT$1,000 to NT$20,000 depending on age.
Facts
The 2026 Double Ninth Festival falls on Oct. 18, and senior-citizen grant payments are ramping up across Taiwan.
With combined bonuses from the county government and township office, centenarians in Nan'ao Township, Yilan County, can receive up to NT$70,000 in senior-citizen grants at once.
Seniors aged 99 and older in Taoyuan City can receive NT$20,000 in senior-citizen grants.
Eligible residents in Miaoli County will each receive a uniform NT$1,000 senior-citizen grant.
Seniors aged 100 and older in Chiayi County can receive NT$9,000 in senior-citizen grants.
Nan'ao Township in Yilan County is providing an exclusive additional NT$50,000 to seniors aged 100 and older.
Senior-citizen grant payments officially began today in areas including Taoyuan City, Miaoli County, Yilan County and Chiayi County.
Families with students, remember to claim your money! New Ministry of Labor program offers up to NT$62,400; eligible families across Taiwan can apply. How and when to apply for living assistance
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Ministry of Labor has opened applications for living assistance for the children of unemployed workers who are enrolled in school for the first semester of academic year 115, with a deadline of Oct. 19, 2026. The program aims to ease the financial burden on unemployed families. Under the new rules, it can be combined with tuition and fee waivers, and families with multiple children or a sole caregiver receive an additional 20%, with a maximum of NT$31,200 per student.
Facts
The Ministry of Labor has introduced living assistance for students whose parents are unemployed workers for the first semester of academic year 115. Applications are open until Oct. 19, 2026.
Eligible involuntarily unemployed workers can apply for grants ranging from NT$4,000 to NT$26,000 per semester, depending on their children's level of study and whether they attend public or private schools.
The living assistance can be claimed alongside other government tuition and fee waivers or education subsidies, ending the previous rule that applicants could choose only one.
Applicants who are sole breadwinners or have 2 or more children enrolled in universities or colleges can receive an additional 20%.
The basic grant for each child enrolled in a private university or college is NT$26,000 per semester.
The basic grant for each child enrolled in a public senior high or vocational school, including the first 3 years of a 5-year junior college program, is NT$4,000 per semester.
The real gap between Chiang Chi-chen and Ho Hsin-chun? Doctor examines “dangerous KMT poll” and 2 data points: Taichung gap is at least this large
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Physician Shen Cheng-nan analyzed a Taichung mayoral poll released by the Taichung Friends of Taiwan Trust and said sampling bias and undecided centrist voters suggest Chiang Chi-chen's actual lead should be 10 percentage points, rather than the 1.9-point margin shown in the poll.
Facts
The Taichung Friends of Taiwan Trust released its latest mayoral election poll on the 12th, showing Chiang Chi-chen with 34.3% support and Ho Hsin-chun with 32.4%, a gap of 1.9 percentage points.
Physician Shen Cheng-nan said the poll overrepresented the pan-green camp and had too few centrist voters stating a preference. After adjustment, Chiang Chi-chen would lead Ho Hsin-chun by at least 10 percentage points.
On perceived electability, Chiang Chi-chen led Ho Hsin-chun by a wide margin, 48.6% to 20.1%, a gap of about 28 percentage points.
The survey was conducted from Oct. 5 to 6, 2026, with 1,071 valid responses.
A 75-year-old mother receives 150,000 yen in pension benefits each month but pays a staggering 100,000 yen in premiums! Her son opened her bankbook and finally understood why she suddenly said she was short of money.
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
A 75-year-old woman living alone in Japan’s Saitama Prefecture ran short of retirement funds because of high insurance premiums and sought help from her 50-year-old son. A financial planning expert said her premiums were far above average and recommended reviewing her coverage needs to avoid financial difficulties.
Facts
Ichikawa Mutsuko, a 75-year-old woman in Japan’s Saitama Prefecture, receives about 150,000 yen in pension benefits each month after deductions.
The woman has to pay about 100,000 yen in insurance premiums each month, accounting for 三分之二 of her pension.
Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ 2025 Family Income and Expenditure Survey showed that average monthly consumer spending by single, jobless households headed by someone aged 65 or older was about 148,445 yen.