Taiwan stock market records fourth-largest loss in history

TAIPEI -- The TAIEX, the weighted index on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, plunged 830.7 points to close at 22,694.71 points on Monday, recording the fourth largest single-day loss in its history.

On the first trading day after the region's Spring Festival holiday, the index plummeted 3.53 percent from the previous trading session, led by losses in semiconductor and artificial intelligence shares.

Among the major weighted stocks in the TAIEX, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company dropped by 5.73 percent and Hon Hai Precision Industry Co fell by 8.06 percent.

Analysts say that US tariff hikes have largely influenced the sharp decline in Taiwanese stocks. If future tariff increases impact the region's semiconductor exports or supply chains, the Taiwanese stock market could face even greater pressure.

The previous three largest single-day drops all occurred in the third quarter of last year.