Taipei, Aug. 3 (CNA) Labor funds administered by the Ministry of Labor's Bureau of Labor Funds reported a return of 28.46 percent in the first half of this year, driven by a boom in the global equity market during the current AI era, data released by the bureau showed Monday. As of the end of June, the combined value of the funds managed by the bureau, including the Labor Pension Fund, the Labor Retirement Fund, the Labor Insurance Fund, and the Employment Insurance Fund, stood at NT$8.896 trillion, according to bureau data. The six-month gains of NT$2.20 trillion translated into a rate of return of 28.46 percent during January-June, up from 27.7 percent during January-May, according to the bureau. The bureau added that thanks to sound fundamentals, Taiwan's market continued to receive a boost from strong AI demand. The labor funds managed by the bureau have various functions, mainly aimed at helping workers.