Taiwan stocks up two percent

Taiwan stocks closed up 2.04 percent on Wednesday at an almost seven-month closing high , with HTC Corp jumping after it announced a new line up of phones aimed at countering a slide in sales. The main TAIEX index rose 162.10 points to 8,121.44, the highest close since August 4, after opening up 1.09 percent. The market had been closed February 27 and 28 for public holidays. It will open on Saturday March 3 for a session in lieu of the holidays.
HTC ended up 5.09 percent. Computer makers were the top gainers, up 4.56 percent, with Asustek limit up 7 percent. But shares in Taiwan chipmakers connected to Elpida Memory Inc tumbled after the Japanese company filed for bankruptcy protection, with its joint venture Rexchip slumping 31.13 percent. The Taiwan dollar was up by T$0.093 to trade at T$29.489.