TAIPEI: ProMOS Technologies Inc led gains by Taiwan chipmakers' stocks yesterday after dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, prices jumped to the highest level this year on speculation the new Microsoft Corp operating system to be released next week will boost computer sales.

ProMOS climbed 6.7 percent to NT$1.92, its highest since January 14. Powerchip Semiconductor Corp advanced 5 percent to NT$3.39, the highest since September 8. The benchmark Taiex index closed 0.27 percent from the previous session (Friday).

"Chip companies shares are higher today because of the rising contract prices," said Liway Chen, an analyst at Polaris Securities Co, who rates Taiwan DRAM companies "equalweight".

The benchmark price of DRAM chips, which temporarily hold data and help computer processors run multiple programs simultaneously, gained 8.8 percent to $2.34 on October 9 from a day earlier, and jumped 12.5 percent last week, the most since April. The prices surged on speculation Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system, which debuts on October 22, will boost demand, according to Chen.

Bloomberg News

(HK Edition 10/13/2009 page2)