Taiwan stocks ended flat for a second day on Friday as investors waited for the outcome of weekend presidential elections, though smartphone maker HTC rose 3.78 percent. Saturday's election will determine whether the island deepens economic integration with China or embarks on a period of more tense and possibly fractious relations that could slow the economic rapprocehment that has benefited Taiwan's markets.
The TAIEX index dipped 5.04 points to 7,181.54, closing this week with about a 1 percent rise in its best weekly gain in a month. Tourism shares jumped 1.46 percent, offset by a 1.07 percent slide in machinery stocks. The market will only open for three days next week before the lunar new year holiday. The Taiwan dollar slightly firmed to stand at T$29.97. Foreign investors were net buyers on Thursday, bringing their total buying to T$16.7 billion this month.