The Ministry of Labor released major occupational accident statistics for the first three quarters of this year, with 193 deaths across all industries, down 9% year on year. The construction industry reported 102 deaths, accounting for over 50%, with 62% caused by falls. Three measures will be introduced for technology factory projects to strengthen inspections and contractor management, in order to reduce risks from work at height and subcontracting.
Macro & Policy
The Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research reported October PMI fell 0.9 percentage points month-on-month to 62.5%, expanding for the 13th consecutive month; NMI fell 1.5 percentage points month-on-month but remained in expansion. President Lien Hsien-ming noted substrate shortages dragged on AI server shipments, with expansion slowing but it is too early to declare a peak.
The Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research reported the seasonally adjusted October manufacturing PMI at 62.5%, down 0.9 percentage points from the previous month, expanding for a 13th consecutive month but with slowing momentum, mainly due to shortages of key materials and lengthened delivery times. AI demand remains strong, with no reversal in the outlook.
Japanese media reported Taiwan and Japan are discussing a trade agreement covering broad areas, potentially to be signed as early as year-end. The Ministry of Economic Affairs said the Office of Trade Negotiations should comment, which only reiterated deepening cooperation and did not confirm the agreement's content or timeline.
National Development Council Minister Ye Junxian said the U.S. stock plunge stemmed from doubts over AI software monetization. Taiwan, focused on hardware, has secure orders and funding with no problems through the end of next year. Any impact will be brief market adjustment, the long-term physical AI trend remains upward, and full-year 12% growth is assured.
FSC statistics show pre-tax net profit of the financial trio reached NT$1 trillion 2715.44 billion in the first 9 months, up 77.5% year-on-year, setting new records for both the same period and a full year. Banks accounted for the largest share of profit, while the securities industry grew over 1.7 times year-on-year, the strongest growth. Stability in the fourth quarter will set another record.
Paul Chan expects Hong Kong's third-quarter economy to grow year-on-year above expectations, accelerating from the second quarter, marking 15 consecutive quarters of positive growth, with growth in the first three quarters hitting a five-year high for the period and the full-year forecast likely to be revised up again. Supported by faster exports and solid domestic demand, investment and services exports remained robust.
Commissioned by the National Science and Technology Council and conducted by National Sun Yat-sen University, the power reliability risk survey collected 103 expert questionnaires. Concentration of critical nodes ranked first in severity with a mean score of 4, followed by inconsistent energy policy, while unclear cross-agency governance was deemed the most urgent.
As Middle East tensions flared up again, CPC Corporation, Taiwan announced that from November 2 gasoline and diesel prices will remain unchanged for the 7th consecutive week, with all products holding at original prices, as the government expands commodity tax reductions and the stabilization mechanism, absorbing a combined total of over NT$31.8 billion to stabilize prices.
With winter and year-end festivities approaching, monthly cylinder LPG demand in Taiwan is estimated to exceed 9萬噸. Hit by the price-freeze policy, CPC absorbs about 23.75元 per kilogram and faces pressure of losing money on every cylinder sold, but still pledges full supply, while the Energy Administration will coordinate and seek an additional budget to subsidize the price gap.
Thirteen years after their establishment, China's pilot free trade zones have expanded to 23, using pilots on negative lists, cross-border data, intellectual property and others to align with high-standard rules such as CPTPP, accumulating institutional-opening experience to support subsequent opening negotiations.
The 9th CIIE opens on November 5. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China serves as partner for an eighth consecutive year, setting up a 1,200-square-meter pavilion, hosting the China-Europe conference and launching full-cycle financial solutions to help global exhibitors connect with the Chinese market, covering a network in 69 countries and promoting trade matchmaking.
The Ministry of Education's 115年 Youth 10-Billion Overseas Dream Fund national achievement exhibition moves to Kaohsiung for the first time, held at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center North Hall from 10月30日 to 11月1日, with Lai Ching-te and Chen Chi-mai attending in support to witness youth learning journeys across 78國.
The FSC has confirmed the cross-sector joint credit inquiry will take effect on 10月31日, with securities firms to query bank credit data starting 11月2日, and banks making investment-wealth-management loans must also check securities-firm liabilities, to fully assess leverage and repayment capacity. The new regime only expands the scope of data, without additional loan restrictions.
The new Huanggang Port recorded nearly 80,000 passenger crossings on its first day of operation, implementing cooperative inspection with single release, clearing in dozens of seconds and operating 24 hours, sharply lowering cross-border costs, as Hong Kong retail and catering face direct competition from Shenzhen commercial districts, with scholars urging relaxation of border planning and industry adaptation.
Although rising oil prices pushed US September CPI inflation to 3.7% year over year, the cooling job market shows low hiring and low layoffs, reducing the need for further rate hikes. If the economy achieves a soft landing, US stocks rise an average of 23% in the 1 year after rate hikes stop, and phased allocation to US equity funds is recommended.
The National Development Council reported September's monitoring indicator composite score at 41 points, flashing red for the 10th consecutive month of exuberance, surpassing the nine-red streak in 2021 and setting the longest record since the current methodology was adopted in 1984, with the run continuing from December 2025 to date.
Taiwan Week 2026 opens on November 3 with 45 events in total; registrations for the 12 core events have reached 2,378, with international institutions including NASDAQ taking part, focusing on asset management and capital markets, and attendance is expected to exceed last year's nearly 28,000 participants.
Hsieh Chin-ho points out that Taiwan's exports are booming but the New Taiwan dollar is weak, mainly because high-net-worth funds remain offshore, corporate profits are not repatriated while outbound investment expands, and foreign investors have sold Taiwan stocks heavily by 逾2兆元 leading to net outflows, with current account surpluses and financial account net outflows moving in tandem.
FSC statistics show domestic banks' foreign currency deposits reached 17兆518億元 at end-August, a fresh record high, with a cumulative increase of 1兆6651億元 in the first 8 months reaching 95% of the historical peak, driven by corporate export inflows, as E.SUN overtook Taipei Fubon to rank third.