Taiwan-based fabless chip vendor MediaTek Inc. announced Friday that it had reached a deal with U.S.-based Qualcomm Inc. under which the two companies will allow each other to utilize technology covered by their respective patent portfolios.

Ten customers of China Airlines (CAL) will get their air tickets at a price of only 10 percent of the regular price after Taiwan's largest air carrier yesterday said it will honor the deals despite mispricing on its Web site.

Vice President Vincent Siew said yesterday that the biotech and medical care industries will play a critical role in Taiwan's economic development.

The government will adopt a policy of increasing supply of apartments on the market rather than using financial or other measures to stem the continuing rise in housing prices.

Taiwan's economics ministry denied a newspaper report that it rejected an application submitted by a group led by Primus Financial Holdings Ltd. to buy the local unit of American International Group Inc.

China Strategic Holdings Ltd. aims to maintain long-term control of Taiwan's Nan Shan Life Insurance Co. after buying it from American International Group Inc., Chief Executive Officer Raymond Or said.

Perng Fai-nan, governor of Taiwan's Central Bank, ruled out Thursday the possibility for him to work in the private sector after retirement, although his pay is relatively low compared with the central bankers of major countries.

The government is going to ease restrictions for Taiwan screen panel makers to invest in China as long as they keep their focus on the island, a local newspaper yesterday quoted Premier Wu Den-yih as saying.

Taiwan has seen a decline in speculative capital from overseas, central bank Governor Perng Fai-nan said, more than a week after the island's financial regulator banned foreigners from placing funds in time deposits.

Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) will hold four trade fairs in China in 2010 to promote Taiwanese name brand products, Huang Wen-rong, deputy secretary of TAITRA, said Thursday.