A highly sought after property plot has been sold for NT$4.271 billion, representing a new record in Southern Taiwan, the Kaohsiung City Government Land Administration (高雄市地政局) announced yesterday.

Worldwide personal computer shipments for the first quarter of this year fell almost 14 percent from a year earlier, with Taiwanese brands suffering as part of the decline, a research report said yesterday.

Shares in Taiwan closed higher to stand above the 7,800 point mark Thursday after electronics stocks staged a comeback on the back of gains posted by their counterparts on Wall Street overnight, dealers said.

The U.S. dollar fell against the Taiwan dollar yesterday, shedding NT$0.018 to close at NT$29.980 after the latest meeting minutes released by the United States Federal Reserve indicated that the central bank will continue to pump huge funds into the market, dealers said.

Taiwan's weighted index yesterday recorded a gain of 105.18 points, with the eight state-operated banks initiating market intervention ahead of the activation of the National Stabilization Fund (國安基金), according to reports.

Taiwan's shipments of notebook computers in the second quarter are projected to surge only 3 percent from the first quarter, down from an earlier projection of 4 percent, according to the latest study report released by Barclays Securities.

Domestic Internet access fees are expected to be lowered this year, according to the National Communications Commission (NCC).

Taiwan has moved up one place this year to 10th spot worldwide in terms of its readiness to use information and communications technology (ICT) to improve its competitiveness and the well-being of its citizens, according to a World Economic Forum (WEF) report released Wednesday.

Small eateries and snack bars that have large customer bases will be required to issue uniform invoices, according to draft revisions to the Value-added and Non-value-added Business Tax Act approved by the Cabinet yesterday.

The mainland Chinese government recently announced that it will allow the buying and selling of New Taiwan dollars at commercial banks within its jurisdiction.