HK, region take toll as Nvidia fate hangs in balance

Asian shares and US futures declined on Thursday as concerns over leadership at chipmaker Nvidia weighed on artificial intelligence-related stocks. In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index closed down 307 points, or 1.3 percent, to 24,008 on turnover of HK$202.65 billion. The tech index plunged 95 points, or 2.4 percent, to 3,931 while the China enterprises index fell 114 points, or 1.4 percent, to 8,056. Up north, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index ended down 24 points, or 0.67 percent, at 3,655. The Shenzhen Component Index fell 191 points, or 1.68 percent, to 11,197 while the ChiNext Index dived 62 points, or 2.44 percent, to 2,509. In after-hours trading, Nvidia’s shares fell 8.6 percent after reports said Nvidia’s board was meeting late on Wednesday to discuss the situation surrounding its chief executive, Jensen Huang and his extramarital affairs. Nvidia's shares climbed 2.9 percent on Wednesday. Its shares have fallen after the company said it was investigating Huang, who has admitted to being unfaithful to his wife. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Huang was involved in a second extramarital affair. The tech company's board was preparing to meet as soon as Wednesday to determine Huang's future, according to the Wall Street Journal, which quoted people...