The TAIEX, Taiwan’s benchmark stock index, advanced 219 points, or 0.5%, to close at 45,557 on Tuesday, rising for the third straight session, mainly buoyed by finance, communication, consumer durables, electronic technology, and technology services stocks. The broader index hit a fresh record high, surpassing the 45,000 level for the second consecutive session, as optimism over AI demand continued to lift sentiment. A rally on Wall Street on Friday also supported sentiment amid a resurgence in AI-related stocks. Electronic technology stocks gained 0.4%, with TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, which accounts for more than 40% of the market's total value, rising 1.1% after being flat on Monday. Meanwhile, Hon Hai Precision Industry gained 2.7%. Financial stocks rose 2.2%, with Fubon Financial Holding climbing 2.7%, while Cathay Financial Holding and CTBC Financial Holding advanced 1.1% and 3.2%, respectively.