(Feb 21): Taiwan’s financial regulator is considering lifting a cap that a single stock can take up in the market capitalisation of local exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track indices.

The Financial Supervisory Commission said in a statement on Thursday that it’s reviewing a proposal to lift the 30% limit in place for constituent member stocks in index ETFs and may approve appropriate amendments from the Taiwan Stock Exchange in the first half of this year. 

The consideration comes as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co's (TSMC) member weighting in local equity benchmark Taiex climbed to 37%, making it difficult for adjustment in ETF products tracking the index. The chipmaker’s shares have gained around 140% since the global artificial intelligence investing frenzy that started late 2022.

South Korean regulators have also in the past sought to ease rules on ETFs tracking the nation’s key gauges. In 2020, they removed a cap that prohibits ETFs from holding a stock whose weighting is more than 30%, amid Samsung Electronics Co rising dominance in the nation’s popular passive fund products.

Uploaded by Felyx Teoh