Taiwan Stock Exchange weighted index opened down 34.46 points, or 0.08%, at 44,899.28 on Friday, Aug. 21.

S&P Global preliminary eurozone composite PMI output index rose to 52.1 from July’s 52.0, beating the 51.7 consensus and hitting its highest level since November. New orders expanded at the fastest pace in 40 months and export orders, including intra-eurozone trade, rose for the first time since February 2022. Price pressures eased. S&P Global noted manufacturing led the improvement with services providing support; firms rebuilt inventories as a precaution amid ongoing Middle East supply disruptions, while rising demand for AI-related tech and higher defence spending are boosting equipment orders and materially lifting German output.

Electrek reports Tesla (TSLA.O) has halted production of Solar Roof tiles, saying the product is not economically viable.