The Tai-Ex opened up 290-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
27,987 on turnover of $10.5-billion N-T.

The market ended up last week Friday, as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
last week recorded an increase in shareholders to the highest number in
almost eight months.

Analysts say TSMC is expected to continue to benefit from strong global
demand for its high-end processes to meet strong global demand for artificial
intelligence applications.

The Ministry of Environment is warning that northeasterly monsoon winds will
continue to bring increased pollution to southern and central parts of the
island today.

The ministry says pollutants from overseas are forecast to bring air quality
to an orange alert level in those areas and sensitive groups are advised to
avoid outdoor activities.

Under the ministry's Air Quality Index system, during an orange alert, people
with heart, respiratory, or cardiovascular conditions, as well as children
and the elderly, are advised to reduce physical exertion (體力消耗/勞動) and
limit outdoor activity or wear a mask when going out.

According to the environment ministry, the concentrations of fine particulate
matter are being brought to Taiwan by a northeasterly monsoon from China's
Shanghai and Shandong areas.

The impact of transboundary pollution is expected to ease later today.

US official says

US officials say the Coast Guard is pursuing another tanker is says is
helping Venezuela skirt (避開，繞開) sanctions.

AP correspondent Julie Walker reports

Israel’s far-right finance minister says the Cabinet has approved 19 new
Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The decision announced Sunday is part of a broader push by the government to
expand settlements, which threatens the possibility of a Palestinian state.

The Peace Now anti-settlement group says the approval increases the number of
settlements in the West Bank by nearly 50% during the current government’s
tenure (任期).

Settlements are widely considered illegal under international law.

The decision comes as the U.S. is pushing Israel and Hamas to advance a Gaza
ceasefire plan that includes a possible pathway to a Palestinian state.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to build a new aircraft
carrier.

The vessel will have the capacity for 30 fighter jets and 2,000 sailors.

Macron described it as a display of national power.

The announcement was made to French troops in Abu Dhabi.

The new carrier is set to replace the aging Charles de Gaulle by 2038.

It will be nuclear-powered and equipped with Rafale M fighter jets.

The project is expected to benefit (對……有益) many small- and medium-sized
businesses.

Macron has also announced increased military spending, aiming for 64 billion
euros by 2027.

The Tai-Ex opened up 217-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
27,685 on turnover of $8.7-billion N-T.

The market lost ground on Thursday as renewed concerns about an artificial
intelligence bubble drove Wall Street down overnight.

Analysts say renewed fears over an A-I bubble triggered selling in large-cap
AI-related stocks and investors seized on the lead as an excuse (藉口) to
pocket recent gains.

However, the Tai-Ex still recovered from its initial downturn by the end of
the session and the index saw strong technical support ahead of the
27,400-point mark - which is around the 60-day moving average.

The central bank has opted to leave its key interest rates unchanged after
wrapping up (結束) it final quarterly policymaking meeting of this year.

The market had widely anticipated the bank would leave interest rates
unchanged for the seventh consecutive quarter - despite the U-S Federal
Reserve cutting rates for the third straight policymaking meeting last week.

The decision by the central bank means that the discount rate remains at
2-percent and that's still the highest level in 15 years.

Economists have said it's currently difficult for the central bank to follow
the U-S Fed's lead and cut interest rates as the local economy remains strong
and inflation stable.

According to government estimates, the island's economy will grow 7.37-per
cent for the whole of this year, largely on the back of an increase of
8.21-per cent in the third quarter due strong global demand for artificial
intelligence applications.

The European Commission says the European Union is delaying a massive
free-trade deal with South American countries after fiery protests by farmers
and last-minute opposition by France and Italy.

Top EU officials had hoped to sign the EU-Mercosur in Brazil this weekend,
after more than 25 years of negotiations.

Instead Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho confirmed that the
signature had been put off until January.

Experts say the delay will dent the EU’s negotiating credibility globally as
it seeks to forge (創造) new trade ties amid commercial tensions with the
U.S. and China.

dangerous drug

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order labeling (標示，標籤)
marijuana a less dangerous drug.

AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports

Italian restorers have used laser beams to clean an ancient Roman marble
column in the piazza outside the prime minister’s office, removing layers of
dust and grime that had covered the monument for decades.

The 47-meter-tall column, built between A.D. 180 and 193, features a relief
that spirals (盤旋上升) upward and recounts the battles of one of Rome’s
best-known emperors, Marcus Aurelius.

During the column’s last restoration, in the 1980s, restorers used tiny
brushes to remove the dirt.

The $2.3-million dollar restoration is funded by the post-pandemic European
recovery fund, and includes a new system to illuminate (照亮) the column at
night.

Work began in April and the restoration (恢復) is expected to finish in June.