The Tai-Ex opened down 167-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

19,064 on turnover of 6.9-billion N-T

The market registered its steepest ever daily decline on Monday - as the main

board tumbled 2,065 points due to a downturn in investor sentiment following

U-S President Donald Trump's tariff actions.

It was the first time the index had closed below the 20,000-point mark since

August 5 of last year - and out of 1,034 stocks traded on the Tai-Ex a total

of 945 fell by the maximum 10-per cent amid concerns that the tariffs could

undermine global trade.

Meanwhile,

The Ministry of Finance says the National Financial Stabilization Fund has

not ruled out the possibility of convening a special meeting to discuss

measures to ease market volatility after U-S tariffs rattled financial

markets.

According to the finance ministry, the stabilization fund is closely

monitoring (監控) market conditions worldwide and could hold a special

meeting in a bid to shore up investor confidence and stabilize the local

capital market.

The stabilization fund is already slated to hold its regular meeting next

Monday.

The 500-billion N-T stabilization fund was established by the government in

2000 to serve as a buffer against unexpected external factors that might

disrupt the local bourse.

And,

A presidential citation has been awarded posthumously to late Taiwanese poet

Li Kuei-hsien.

Li died on January 15 in Taipei at the age of 85.

The award was presented to the poet's son, Li Shih-fei by Culture Minister Li

Yuan during a memorial ceremony for his father.

The culture minister said Li used poetry, a universal language, to lift the

visibility (能見度) of Taiwan literature in the world.

Li Kuei-hsien was born in Taipei in 1937 and began writing poems in junior

high school.

His first published poem was titled "Sakura" and appeared in the magazine

Wild Wind in 1953.

China has threatened to “resolutely take countermeasures” in response to

U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of an additional 50% tariff.

The Commerce Ministry statement issued earlier today said the U.S.‘s

imposition of “so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’” on China is “completely

groundless (毫無根據的)".

China has taken retaliatory tariffs and the ministry hinted more many be

coming.

The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to block a court order

requiring it to return a man who was mistakenly deported to a notorious

(惡名的) prison in El Salvador.

A District Court Judge has given the administration until just before

midnight Monday to facilitate (讓…順利進行) Kilmar Abrego Garcia's return

to the US.

Ira Spitzer reports.

That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____.

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