TAIWAN

Industrial Production Rose 4.45% in July: Taiwan’s industrial production rose 4.45% from a year before on increased construction activity and stronger manufacturing, the Ministry of Economic Affairs reported. The index of construction activity rose 7.1% in July from a year ago, according to ministry data. For the first seven months of the year, construction activity rose 25.6% from a year earlier, the ministry said. Industry production also rose. Led by higher production of chemical materials, steel and information products, manufacturing rose 3.57% on the year in July, the government said. That contrasts with only a 1.24% gain for the first seven months of the year.