Just a quick post to make sure there are no bugs in the connection from my Taibei hotel room.  As I exepcted, all seems fine.  After a long, long journey we arrived only an hour late, but my bag did not.  I have no clothes at this moment (they say it will be here in the morning) but I have my computer and a good connection – what else do I need….

   For those following the Taiwan elections at home (New Hampshire?  Did something happen in New Hampshire?), here’s a link to a short WSJ story that is calling 75 seats for the KMT, which runs on the high side of predictions.   And here’s a little AP piece that says the Taiwan government, the executive branch of which is controled by the DPP, is pushing money into the stock market to bolster it ahead of Saturday’s legislative election.  But why are they doing this?  A KMT win, which seems all but certain (you know, just like Obama in NH…), would likely please investors: the KMT will take a softer line toward China, and that will make both Beijing and Washington happy, reducing political tensions all around, just what money guys like.  If that is all but certain, then why is the DPP government bolstering the market now?  Perhaps they just want to make sure that the election does not cause any disturbances; or they want to be able to say that the market did not rise because of the KMT win….the latter is a distinct possibility.

     More tomorrow…