Taiwan stocks ended at a one-week low on Monday, led by financial shares on growing concerns that Europe's debt crisis could further dampen global economy. The main TAIEX index was down 2.93 percent, or 211.41 points to 7,013.97, tracking regional bourses and extending slides from its worst quarterly fall in over two years on Friday.
The financial sub-index was the second biggest loser, after cement, shedding 4.98 percent, with Cathay Financial Holding off 5.4 percent. Tech shares slipped 2.35 percent, with notebook pioneer Asustek limi-down. Smartphone maker HTC fell 3.21 percent. HTC and Apple are both set to launch new models this week, a move that could affect demand for their Taiwan suppliers before the fourth-quarter shopping season, a local newspaper reported. Unimicron, a printed circuit board supplier of Apple, fell 2.76 percent. The company said a fire at one of its factories in Taiwan has been put out, adding losses were yet to be estimated.