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Jensen Huang affair weighs on Nvidia shares as other chip stocks rally

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In short

The board of directors has commissioned an independent investigation following Huang's admitted affair with Chinese executive Alice Huang, who faces allegations of serving as an intelligence asset for Beijing. Although the company stated it has no reason to believe national security or trade secrets were leaked, investors are bracing for potential government probes into export control compliance. China has dismissed the espionage claims as groundless speculation, yet market observers warn that ongoing leadership uncertainty could depress the stock despite Nvidia's strong underlying business.

Key points

  • Market analysts view the stock plunge as isolated key-person risk tied directly to chief…: Market analysts view the stock plunge as isolated key-person risk tied directly to chief executive Jensen Huang.
  • The controversy threatens to trigger increased regulatory scrutiny over Nvidia's complian…: The controversy threatens to trigger increased regulatory scrutiny over Nvidia's compliance with United States export controls in Asia.
  • Prolonged leadership and governance uncertainties could impose an ongoing valuation disco…: Prolonged leadership and governance uncertainties could impose an ongoing valuation discount on the company's shares.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Nvidia bucked a broader tech rebound on Monday as investors weighed the fallout from the controversy surrounding CEO Jensen Huang. But analysts say the chipmaker's underlying business remains strong.

SINGAPORE: US technology stocks rebounded on Monday (Nov 9), with the rally extending to Asia on Tuesday after last week's sell-off over AI spending, valuations and uncertainty following the US midterm elections.

The Nasdaq Composite closed 2.7 per cent higher, its best day in over four months, while the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, which contains 30 of the largest semiconductor companies in the US, shot up about 7 per cent after plunging more than 12 per cent last week.

But Nvidia bucked the trend.

The chipmaker was the only stock in the semiconductor index to decline, with its shares closing 4.3 per cent lower after falling nearly 9 per cent earlier in the session. The drop wiped about US$190 billion off its market value.

The decline came as Nvidia co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang admitted to having an affair with a Chinese executive Alice Huang, alleged to be a spy for Beijing.

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