沈伯洋 Proposes Decoupling, Central Bank Responds on Challenges
During Typhoon 薔琵's landfall in Taiwan, DPP Taipei mayoral candidate 沈伯洋 floated the idea of decoupling Taiwan stock trading from typhoon days off, sparking market discussion. Central bank Governor 楊金龍 appeared before the Legislative Yuan Finance Committee on 10月28日 for questioning, where Legislator 林德福 asked whether Taiwan stocks could follow international markets to maintain normal trading during typhoon days off, or switch to a work-from-home model. 楊金龍 responded that the adjustment involves a wide range of issues and, even though trading is highly electronic, it still requires careful evaluation.
Multiple Parties Involved, FSC to Lead Evaluation
楊金龍 noted that Taiwan stock trading involves investors, banks, securities firms, futures firms, the TWSE, TPEx and other parties, with financial-institution operations and clearing processes still requiring complete supporting measures. A full shift to work-from-home still faces technical and operational workflow issues to overcome. As the FSC is the competent authority for the securities market, related policy should be evaluated by the FSC for overall support measures and feasibility, and if implementation is confirmed in the future, the central bank will cooperate on foreign-exchange market and related operations.
Central Bank Maintains Operations, 卓榮泰 Stresses Safety First
林德福 also asked about the central bank's staffing during typhoon days off, and whether employees unable to report due to severe weather would face performance-review impacts. 楊金龍 explained that the central bank's Secretariat, Foreign Exchange Department and interbank remittance operations must remain operational during typhoon days off, adjusting staffing based on actual weather conditions and attendance levels, and attendance does not affect performance reviews. Premier 卓榮泰 previously said that in the face of typhoons and other natural disasters, the top consideration remains public safety, and whether trading technology and digital tools are sufficient to support such adjustments still requires further study.
Heated PTT Debate, Mockery as Asian Nasdaq
沈伯洋's proposal drew mixed views on the PTT stock board. Supporters argued that local-government work and school closure announcements should not directly determine whether 全台 stocks halt trading, and questioned the automation level of Taiwan's financial market, with comments saying「號稱科技島卻不能自動化」、「日韓也是脫鉤，大市場只有台灣這樣搞」, while others mocked with「每個都是挑戰，亞洲那斯達克」. Opponents argued that securities trading is not just online order placement, but also involves brokers, financial institutions and settlement, with comments saying「營業員的命也是命」、「為了交割，所有其他配合的功能就都要全開，尤其是台灣電子交易一堆限額」, saying personnel safety and work arrangements must be considered.