Silver prices hit a record high, investment frenzy surges
London spot silver is experiencing an unprecedented rally. Supported by multiple positive factors such as expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts, global supply tightness, and silver being officially included in the US critical minerals list, silver prices broke the important psychological barrier of $60 per ounce on December 9, 2025, and continued to rise to a historic high of $64.6 per ounce.
So far this year, silver has surged over 100%, becoming the most outstanding asset. In comparison, gold has increased by only about 40%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index has risen by approximately 20%. International investment bank UBS forecasts silver prices in 2026 to be between $58 and $60 per ounce, with even the possibility of reaching $65 per ounce.
This rally has attracted a large number of retail investors into the silver market, among which silver ETFs have become the preferred tool due to their convenient trading and relatively controllable risks.

What exactly is the Taiwan Stock Market Index? Understand this basic concept first
If you often hear people talking about stock market trends, the term "Taiwan Stock Market Index" is definitely familiar. Simply put, the Taiwan Stock Market Index is the weighted stock price index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange, commonly known as the "Weighted Index" in the market.
The core function of this index is very clear: it reflects the overall performance of all listed stocks traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, including large companies like TSMC and MediaTek. Investors can quickly grasp the overall trend of the Taiwanese stock market and economic conditions by observing the rise and fall of the index.
In daily life, when people mention "How many points did the Taiwan stock go up today," they are actually referring to the change in the index value. But to truly understand why an index can represent the entire stock market, you need to understand how the index is calculated.
How is the index calculated? Comparing two calculation methods
Essentially, an index is a weighted average.

On September 18, the Federal Reserve announced its first 50 basis points rate cut, bringing the federal funds rate to 4.75%-5.00%. This is the first policy rate reduction since the pandemic in 2020. The decision marks a shift in US monetary policy from tightening to easing, with far-reaching implications for global asset allocation.
But is a rate cut good news for the stock market or a risk signal? History shows that the answer is not simply "yes" or "no," but depends on the economic cycle, market expectations, and policy implementation.
Economic signals behind the rate cut
The Federal Reserve's decision to cut rates reflects changes in economic growth momentum. The unemployment rate has risen from 3.80% in March 2024 to 4.30% in July, triggering a recession warning signal. Meanwhile, the ISM Manufacturing PMI has been in contraction territory for five consecutive months, prompting the Fed to revise this year's GDP growth forecast from 2.1% down to 2.0%.

Signs of a sluggish job market continue to emerge
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released a complex set of signals in its November employment report yesterday. Non-farm payrolls increased by 64,000 jobs, surpassing market expectations of 50,000, but the unemployment rate unexpectedly rose to 4.6%, the highest since September 2021 and above the forecasted 4.4%. More notably, the previous month's data was significantly revised downward, with October non-farm jobs actually decreasing by 105,000, far exceeding the initial estimate of a 25,000 decline.
This data reflects subtle changes in the labor market—companies are not engaging in large-scale layoffs but are cautiously controlling new hiring. Analysts point out that some firms prefer to have workflows handled by artificial intelligence rather than increasing human labor. Over the past six months, the private sector has averaged only 44,000 new hires per month, the slowest pace since the economic recovery period following the pandemic.
Market concerns about a recession intensify
After the employment data was released, the Federal Reserve's interest rate

Why are small investors all playing with fractional shares?
In the Taiwanese stock market, fractional share trading has become the mainstream choice for small-scale investors. Unlike traditional full shares (1 lot = 1000 shares), fractional shares allow investors with limited funds to enter the market flexibly, with a minimum purchase of just 1 share of a desired company. Since the exchange opened intraday fractional share trading on October 26, 2020, this investment tool has become increasingly practical.
What are fractional shares? How are they generated?
Fractional shares refer to stocks less than 1000 shares, with the minimum trading unit being 1 share. They are usually generated in the following situations:
- When investors place buy orders and the price fluctuates too quickly, causing the order not to be fully executed
- During dividend or stock distribution processes, resulting in leftover shares
- When investors actively purchase fractional shares during after-hours trading
In simple terms, fractional shares are "stock leftovers" transactions, with each order not exceeding 999 shares.
Fractional share trading hours and exchange

Today, the global financial markets are volatile due to concerns over geopolitical tensions. Precious metal prices hit new highs, with silver surpassing $66 and gold also rising; crude oil rebounded 2.43% due to supply easing; US tech stocks performed well, with Tesla reaching a new all-time high; UK inflation was below expectations, putting pressure on the pound; the market is focused on potential policy signals from Federal Reserve officials' speeches.

On December 9th, US stock futures diverged, with Nvidia's stock price rising due to chip sales to China, while Tesla declined. The United States is about to release employment data, which is expected to boost the US dollar. The Reserve Bank of Australia kept interest rates unchanged but signaled a hawkish stance, prompting the Australian dollar to rise. Gold and silver prices collectively rebounded, while Iraq's increased production pressured crude oil prices downward. Moving forward, close attention should be paid to the interaction between the US dollar exchange rate, employment data, and asset prices.

December 10, 2025, the TWD to JPY exchange rate reaches 4.85, and travel to Japan and JPY investment demand heats up again. Want to exchange for Japanese yen but don't know where to start? This article summarizes the four most common exchange channels in Taiwan, including specific handling fees, exchange rate differences, and how to smartly choose the best options for small denominations like 2000 yen bills.
First, understand: what is the difference between cash exchange rate and spot exchange rate?
To accurately calculate currency exchange costs, you need to understand two core concepts.
Cash exchange rate is the buying and selling price set by banks for physical banknotes, suitable for on-site exchange before going abroad. The downside is that it is 1-2% higher than the international market price, plus possible handling fees, making the overall cost relatively high.
Spot exchange rate is the market price settled T+2 (within two business days) in the foreign exchange market, mainly used for electronic account transfers. Since it is close to the actual international market rate, it is usually 0.5-1% better than the cash exchange rate. This is also why...

Medical biotechnology stocks have investment potential due to global aging populations, the rise of new therapies, and telemedicine. This industry is highly counter-cyclical and influenced by FDA approvals, with valuations typically based on future expectations. The US healthcare market has clear development advantages, but Taiwanese biotech stocks are relatively weaker. Investing requires professional knowledge, and it is also recommended to pay attention to trends in US healthcare stocks.

The core question of day trading: How many times can you trade in a day?
Many traders new to day trading have this doubt—how many times can you trade stocks in a day? The answer is: in theory, there is no limit, but in practice, it is constrained by multiple factors.
The Taiwan stock market adopts a T+2 trading system, but through the broker's margin financing and securities lending mechanisms, investors can achieve T+0 trading (also known as Day Trading). Based on the practical operation since Taiwan stocks have allowed real-time trading, as long as buy and sell transactions are completed within the same trading day, it counts as one day trade. In theory, a trader can execute multiple buy and sell operations during the trading session—buying and selling once in the morning, once at noon, and once in the afternoon, with no limit on the number of trades.
However, the actual situation is much more complex than the theory.
The true limitations of day trading frequency
Capital and leverage restrictions
Although the number of day trades itself is not limited, your available funds are

The actions of the Bank of Japan are currently influencing the nerves of the global financial markets. The interest rate decision on the 19th of this month will be a critical moment, not only determining the fate of the yen but also directly affecting the capital flows of risk assets such as US stocks and cryptocurrencies.
According to market expectations, the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.75%, reaching a thirty-year high. However, the real climax of this story is not the rate hike itself—since it has already been fully priced in by the market—but rather the Bank of Japan Governor Ueda and his stance on the future rate hike path.
Rate hike expectations are set; focus shifts to "indications"
The rate hike itself is no longer a suspense. The market's real concern is whether the Bank of Japan will revise upward its estimate of the neutral interest rate. Most institutions predict that the central bank may raise the lower bound of the neutral rate from the current 1.0%. Based on current pricing, interest rates are expected to rise to 1.0% by September 2026.
Nomura Securities, however, believes that such expectations are too aggressive. This

Financial markets are never short of temptations. Whenever investors are lured by promises of "steady returns," Ponzi schemes hide behind glamorous appearances, waiting for victims to fall into the trap. These scams have a century-long history but continue to reinvent themselves with new faces in today's digital age, becoming the most dangerous pitfalls for investors.
Top 10 Red Flags to Help You Spot Ponzi Schemes
Before your hard-earned money is swallowed by a Ponzi scam, it is crucial to learn how to recognize warning signs.
Low risk with promises of extremely high returns is the most common deception. A healthy investment market follows the iron law that "risk and reward are positively correlated." Any project claiming to offer "1% daily profit, 30% monthly returns" is invariably a scam. Real market fluctuations are unpredictable, and continuous fixed returns cannot be guaranteed.
Overly complex investment strategies are often smokescreens to conceal hollow fundamentals. Scammers deliberately design products to be obscure and difficult to understand, claiming to use "quantitative hedging"

Strong Earnings Report, Leading Chipmaker Soars
Following the news that NVIDIA's stock price surged over 6% after hours, it immediately ignited bullish enthusiasm in the Taiwan stock market. TSMC's ADRs rose in tandem, driving the spot market to open strongly, with the index reaching as high as 1460 yuan in early trading, nearly a 4.7% increase for the day. How powerful is this rally? Investors directly expressed: "One company supports the entire market," and "The AI panic finally has a chance to be alleviated."
According to market analysis, the most direct catalyst for TSMC's strong rebound this time is the confidence rebuilding brought by NVIDIA's earnings report. However, it should be noted that TSMC previously experienced pressure from foreign institutional adjustments, with the stock price touching below the 1465 yuan monthly line, and the technicals still showing a loose state. Whether it can stabilize in the future depends on whether foreign institutional investors truly reduce their futures short positions.
How far can the rebound go? Testing NVIDIA's "sustainability"

When will the Yen hit its lowest point?
In November 2023, the USD/JPY exchange rate reached 151.94 during the New York trading session, marking the lowest point in 32 years since August 1990. Behind this figure lies Japan's deep economic difficulties and the divergence in global monetary policies.
If we extend the timeline to 50 years, the Yen's depreciation trend actually began in 2012. At the end of that year, the USD/JPY exchange rate reached a historic high of 80 yen per dollar, initiating a more than ten-year cycle of depreciation. From 80 to 155, the Yen has experienced nearly a doubling of its value loss.
Three Major Factors Driving the Yen's Continued Decline
Long-term Overextension of Loose Monetary Policy
After the Abe government took office in 2012, it implemented aggressive quantitative and qualitative easing policies, injecting large amounts of liquidity into the market and deliberately suppressing the yen to stimulate exports. This policy has continued to this day, with the Bank of Japan maintaining over ten

In the toolbox of technical analysis, the KD indicator is undoubtedly one of the most popular indicators. Whether you are a novice just entering the market or an experienced trader, learning how to apply the KD indicator to judge market entry and exit points and identify trend reversals can significantly improve your trading success rate.
Quickly understand the core of the KD indicator
The full name of the KD indicator is the "Stochastic Oscillator," invented by American analyst George Lane in the 1950s. Its purpose is simple—by tracking the high and low price changes over a period, it helps traders capture market momentum shifts and overbought/oversold conditions.
The KD indicator's values range from 0 to 100 and consist of two lines:
- K line (%K, fast line): reflects the current closing price's relative position within the price range over the past n days, reacting sensitively to price changes
- D line (%D, slow line): is the K

Taiwan Futures Index has always been a hot topic among investors in Taiwan. It combines advantages such as dual-direction trading, leverage amplification, and night trading, attracting many short-term traders. However, for many beginners, questions like "What is the Taiwan Index Near All?" "How to trade steadily?" and "How to avoid risks?" are often confusing. Today, let's take an in-depth look at the most active index futures instrument in the market.
What exactly is the Taiwan Futures Index? A quick understanding of the core concept
The Taiwan Futures Index is a futures contract that tracks the movement of the Taiwan Weighted Stock Index. Simply put, it uses the Taiwan stock market's main index as the trading underlying. When you are optimistic about Taiwan's stock market prospects, buying Taiwan Futures Index can be profitable; conversely, when you are bearish, selling Taiwan Futures Index can also generate gains. This is what makes it most attractive to traders—both bulls and bears have the opportunity to profit.
The investment amount behind Taiwan Futures Index is quite substantial. For example, with the main Taiwan Futures Index (TX), if the weighted index is at 1

The Australian dollar was once the fifth largest traded currency globally (after the US dollar, euro, yen, and British pound), and AUD/USD is also one of the top five most actively traded currency pairs worldwide. Its high liquidity and low spreads allow market participants to effectively execute various trading strategies.
However, the reality is disappointing. Over the long term, the Australian dollar's performance has been quite weak over the past decade. Starting from around 1.05 in early 2013, by the end of 2023, the AUD/USD has depreciated by over 35%, while the US dollar index has risen by 28.35% during the same period. This is not just an AUD issue— the euro, yen, and Canadian dollar have also depreciated against the dollar, reflecting a global shift into a strong dollar cycle. The historical lows of the AUD are a direct result of this super-strong dollar cycle.
Why is the AUD stuck at a low level? Three major factors form a "deadlock"
The weak performance of the AUD is not due to a single reason. Market observations indicate that US tariff policies impact global trade, raw material out

As we approach the end of 2025, the TWD/JPY exchange rate has reached 4.85, and travel and investment demand for the Japanese yen are heating up again. Want to effectively control currency exchange costs? There are four ways to exchange JPY, each with its own nuances. Let's analyze them all at once.
Current TWD/JPY Exchange Rate Analysis
As of December 10, 2025, the TWD/JPY rate has reached 4.85, representing an 8.7% appreciation from the beginning of the year at 4.46. Since the second half of the year, Taiwan's currency exchange demand has increased by 25% annually, driven by a recovery in tourism and hedging needs.
From the Bank of Japan's perspective, Governor Ueda Kazuo has recently adopted a hawkish stance, with market expectations of an 80% chance of interest rate hikes. The December 19 meeting is expected to raise rates by 0.25 basis points to 0.75% (a 30-year high). Japanese government bond yields have hit a 17-year peak of 1.93%. The USD/JPY has fallen from a high of 160 at the start of the year to around 154.58, and in the short term, it may