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15:01 09Jul09 RTRS-Techs push Taiwan stocks to 1-month closing high * TAIEX outperforms other Asian markets * Notebook makers up on Google's new operation system * Technolgy stocks up on positive June sales * Banks, tourism buoyed by China hopes (Updates indexes, add quotes, details) TAIPEI, July 9 (Reuters) - Taiwan stocks rose 1.2 percent on Thursday, with shares of LCD makers including AU Optronics <2409.tw> leading gains in the optoelectronics sector on increasing demand for LCD panels. The main TAIEX share index <.TWII> jumped 80.04 points to 6,748.18, its highest finish since June 6. Turnover was moderate at T$139 billion ($4.2 billion), slightly more than the T$116 billion recorded on Wednesday. The TAIEX index has gained almost 47 percent since January this year, making it one of the top performers among 30 stock indexes tracked by Reuters in the past six months. "Shares of LCD makers and notebook makers pushed the index higher," said Alex Huang, a research director at Mega International Securities Co. AU Optronics and Chi Mei Optoelectronics <3009.tw>, Taiwan's two biggest LCD makers, rose 4.96 percent and 4.68 percent, respectively, on increasing demand for LCD panels in China. The broader optoelectronics sub-index <.TOPI> jumped 2.84 percent after a newspaper reported that Taiwan's panel makers expected the Taiwan government to urge China to allow them to export their products to the mainland with zero customs tax. "But insufficient turnover capped gains, preventing the index from climbing above 6,800, as investors still have doubts about the potential strength and timing of an economic recovery," Huang said. Investors chased major technology plays including Hon Hai <2317.tw>, AU Optronics and Mediatek <2454.tw>, with the three being the session's most actively traded counters by turnover. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing <2330.tw> , the world's top contract chipmaker rose 1.65 percent, while electronic parts giant Hon Hai rose 1.93 percent. The semiconductor sub-index <.TSII> rose 0.72 percent after a research report said global semiconductor and electronic equipment sales would improve in the second half of 2009 and 2010. [ID:nSE0165008] United Microelectronics Corp <2303.tw> fell 0.43 percent ahead of is June sales report due later on Thursday. The electronics sub-index <.TELI> rose 1.21 percent, as a newspaper report said 11 Taiwanese electronics companies had reported record monthly sales for June, indicating technology demand was not as weak as in the second quarter. Acer <2353.tw>, the world's No.3 PC brand rose 1.66 percent, while netbook PC pioneer Asustek Computer <2357.tw> gained 2 percent, after Google Inc announced its plan to launch a new operating system for personal computers. [ID:nL8468341]. Quanta Computer <2409.tw>, the world's largest contract laptop PC maker, ended flat, after second-quarter shipments surpassed its own forecast. Financial issues ranked among the top gainers with Fubon Financial <2881.tw>, Taiwan's fifth-largest financial holding firm, rising 4.22 percent. HOT STOCKS -- Hotel operator Formosa Hotel <2707.tw> rose 4.03 percent, after Taiwan's government said it would consider allowing Chinese visitors to travel freely -- without joining tour groups -- to the island of Matsu on a trial basis. The tourism sub-index <.THOI>, the session's top advancer, rose 3.12 percent. -- Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd (CPT) <2475.tw>, an LCD unit under Tatung Group, jumped 6.8 percent, after a newspaper quoted the group's chairman as saying it was likely to announce a new strategic partner in the next one to two months. --------------------TAIEX IN PERSPECTIVE-------------------- Move on day 1.20 percent Close on day 6,748.18 2009 intraday high 7,084.83 2009 intraday low 4,164.19 All-time high 12,682.41 12 FEB 1990 ------------------------------------------------------------[ET ((Reporting by Joan Hsu; Editing by Chris Lewis)) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)) Keywords: MARKETS TAIWAN STOCKS
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