Taiwan Weighted Index closed down 589.33 points, or 1.3%, at 44,719.35 on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

Traders said the Reserve Bank of India sold dollars in the FX market to support the rupee.

On Aug 18 Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Ansari said Doha is concentrating diplomatic efforts on de-escalation by securing a US‑Iran ceasefire, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring freedom of navigation, and by getting both parties back to the negotiating table. Ansari said Qatar, with Pakistan, helped mediate a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran and is pressing to restore dialogue and implement the MoU; ceasefire breaches have so far prevented full implementation. Qatar is awaiting an Oman‑Iran agreement on the Strait as a catalyst to resume talks and said its priority is a pact that both reopens the Strait and secures a ceasefire.