Around the World's Markets: TAaiwan

SHARES IN Taiwan fell another 3.99 per cent yesterday sending the index down to 5,514.89, its lowest level since 5 April, 1996, as investors worried that the government would stop supporting the stock market.

The finance ministry plans to announce new plans to stabilise the market next Wednesday, just ahead of the nine-day holiday for the lunar New Year. The index fell 22 per cent last year and has fallen a further 14 per cent so far this year.