stock / 32.955/ 683/ +0.35

14:37 24Jul09 RTRS-Taiwan stocks end slightly lower, AU weighs * AU drags the big board lower as investors book profits * June export orders and some laptop PC shares buck trend * TSMC and UMC mixed before quarterly results next week * Index seen trading between 6,800 and 7,200 points next week (Updates indexes, quotes and details) TAIPEI, July 24 (Reuters) - Taiwan stocks ended 0.11 percent lower on Friday, as AU Optronics <2409.tw> fell after investors booked recent profits, but some laptop PC shares defied the fall after a smaller-than-expected fall in June export orders. The main TAIEX share index <.TWII> finished 7.6 points lower at 6,973.28, barely extending its loss in the previous session. The index has risen more than 50 percent since the beginning of this year and is one of the best performers amongst the 30 global indexes tracked by Reuters. The electronics sub-index <.TELI> rose 0.08 percent, largely helped by laptop PC shares, but its gains were offset by weakness in heavyweights such as Hon Hai <2317.tw> and AU Optronics as investors locked in recent profits. "A smaller fall in export orders indicates a pick-up in consumer demand, and the data supported the export-reliant tech shares," said Andrew Deng, an assistant vice president at Taiwan International Securities Corp. "But people always sell around 7,000 because it's near the year's high mark." Electronics parts giant Hon Hai fell 1.35 percent, while AU Optronics, the world's third-largest LCD maker, dropped 3.80 percent. AU Optronics started off strong early in the session after the company posted a narrower second-quarter loss, but later surrendered gains as investors locked in profits. "I think investors are doubtful about the company's fourth-quarter outlook because there is a possibility that a mounting panel price may offset consumer demand." said Deng. AU Optronics projected on Thursday a strong third-quarter outlook as demand for flat-screen TVs shot up in key markets such as China, where a massive government stimulus plan has helped in domestic spending. [ID:nTP188009] Sector leader Samsung Electronics <005930.ks> said on Friday its LCD business posted a 3 percent profit margin in April-June against a 8 percent loss margin in the first quarter. [ID:nSEL000710] The optoelectronics sub-index <.TOPI> fell 1.54 percent but the sub-index had gained 91 percent since the beginning of January. The LCD sector has been one of the few bright spots in the broader technology sector amid a global economic recession, as growing demand in markets such as the United States and China, and a tight supply in raw materials, kept panel prices high. The computer and peripheral equipment sub-index <.TCPI> rose 1.72 percent as Quanta <2382.tw>, the world's biggest contract lap PC maker, surged 5.62 percent on hopes of better sales and shipments in the third quarter. Deng said Microsoft's sales drop cast a shadow of doubt over the sales of laptop PCs. Netbook pioneer Asustek <2357.tw> fell 1.21 percent, but Acer <2353.tw> rose 1.93 percent. Analysts expect the exchange's turnover to grow next week, after more technology companies, such as world's top contract chipmakers TSMC <2330.tw> and UMC <2303.tw>, release their quarterly earnings and provide investors with a clearer outlook. The main index is seen trading between 6,800 and 7,200 points next week. --------------------TAIEX IN PERSPECTIVE-------------------- Move on day -0.11 percent Close on day 6,973.28 2009 intraday high 7,084.83 2009 intraday low 4,164.19 All-time high 12,682.41 12 FEB 1990 ------------------------------------------------------------[ For a table of foreign trading in Taiwan stocks, double-click on [ID:nTP170358] (Reporting by Joan Hsu; Editing by Valerie Lee) ((gina.chang@thomsonreuters.com; +886 2 2508-0815; Reuters Messaging: gina.chang.reuters.com@reuters.net)) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)) ASIA-PACIFIC STOCK MARKETS: Pan-Asia......[STXNEWS/AS] Japan........[.T] S.Korea....[.KS] S.E. 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