Taiwan Stock Exchange weighted index (TAIEX) opened down 225.92 points, or 0.5%, at 45,154.6 on July 14 (Tuesday).

A July 3-8 survey of 16 economists projects France's 2026 unemployment rate at 8.2%, the highest since 2019. If realized, the reading would raise concerns about the vulnerability of the eurozone's second-largest economy. Weakness preceded the outbreak of the war in Iran: unemployment in Q1 climbed to a five-year high and Q1 GDP posted the first quarterly contraction since the COVID pandemic.

MSCI Asia Pacific index fell 2% to 265.92.