Taiwan shares closed 0.17 percent lower yesterday on mixed signals for different sectors, dealers said.The weighted index dropped 12.25 points to 7,322.93 on turnover of NT$79.13 billion (US$2.43 billion).
But gainers outnumbered losers 1,388 to 1,035, while 295 stocks remained unchanged.
A total of 25 shares surged to their daily 7.0 percent limit, against 18 limit-down.
"While investors were reluctant to build up their portfolio, they did not want to dump their shares at low levels," said Chen Yu-yu of Capital Securities.
Construction led the fall after Taiwan's economic planning minister Tsai Hsun-hsiung suggested that he may propose hiking taxes on houses that are not for the buyer's own use so as to curb speculation.
Huaku Development fell 4.68 percent to NT$75.3 while Chong Hong Construction was 1.7 percent lower to NT$57.5.
Motech Industries, a producer of solar power equipment, was limit-up to NT$93.0 on rosy prospect for 2010 as demand is forecast to pick up. E-Ton Solar Tech rose 4.07 percent to NT$66.0.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co finished 1.0 percent lower at 59.2 while rival United Microelectronics Corp lost 1.88 percent to NT$15.65.
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