TAIWAN’S exports grew more than expected in August as global retailers began stocking up smartphones and other high-tech gadgets ahead of the year-end shopping season, but the rise was slight, keeping the chance of another interest rate cut alive.

    Yesterday’s data followed weak inflation readings and comes three weeks before the banking authorities’ next policy meeting, building a case to keep monetary conditions loose to support the ailing trade-reliant economy. Exports rose 1.0 percent from a year earlier, expanding for the second month after July’s 1.2 percent rise snapped a 17-month losing streak. While that beat market expectations for a 0.4 percent rise, the rate of expansion was still tepid.(SD-Agencies)