Taiwan stocks fell 0.15 percent on Friday as investors remained cautious before the presidential vote next week, but Apple suppliers such as Catcher Technology rose on brisk growth in December sales. The main TAIEX index closed 10.35 points down at 7,120.51, but wrapped up the week about 0.7 percent higher. Topping the most active list by turnover was computer and phone casing maker Catcher, up by the 7 percent daily limit. The electronics sub-index ended flat.
Camera phone lens suppliers Largan Precision and Genius both rose over 1 percent. Elan Microelectronics Corp, a touch panel design company, gained 6.74 percent. Elan said that Apple will pay $5 million as part of a settlement in a patent infringement case. Financial shares were among the worst decliners, shedding 1.5 percent.
Taiwan holds presidential elections on January 14 in a vote that will determine whether the island deepens economic integration with mainland China or embarks on a period of more tense and possibly fractious relations. The Taiwan dollar firmed slightly to trade at T$30.205. Foreign investors were net sellers on Thursday, bringing their total buying down to T$2.6 billion this month.