Taiwan chip maker considers price hike

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world's largest contract chip maker by revenue, is considering raising prices, a company official said Tuesday.

The chip industry's trend of falling average selling prices and rising research and development costs is unsustainable, said Jason Chen, a company vice president for worldwide sales and marketing.

"We must change it," Chen told a technology forum in Hsinchu in northern Taiwan, where TSMC is based.

TSMC shares rose 0.5 percent Tuesday to close at 65.80 New Taiwan dollars ($2.16).