Cooling AI Boom Drives $14 Billion Outflow From Taiwan Stocks

Foreign investors are rapidly retreating from Taiwan’s stock market, turning net sellers for the year as an artificial intelligence frenzy cools.

(Bloomberg) — Foreign investors are rapidly retreating from Taiwan’s stock market, turning net sellers for the year as an artificial intelligence frenzy cools.

Overseas funds have sold near $14 billion of Taiwanese equities on a net basis since mid-June, offsetting all inflows made earlier this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News. Philippines and Thailand are among those in Asia also experiencing outflows. 

The withdrawals came as this year’s stock rally, powered by AI optimism, lost momentum. Chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has fallen more than 11% since a June high. Wall Street banks including Morgan Stanley have called for caution over the island’s AI stocks amid stretched valuation.  

The selloff has weighed on the Taiwanese dollar, which has depreciated more than 3% this quarter, the worst performance in Asia for the current quarter. Taiwan’s central bank said Thursday that the local currency has been under heavy pressure amid foreign outflows and withdrawal of dividends since early August.  

–With assistance from Abhishek Vishnoi and Hideyuki Sano.

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