On November 12, the market surged early then pulled back, with the ChiNext Index falling more than 2% in the afternoon. By the close, the Shanghai Composite was down 0.67%, the Shenzhen Component dropped 1.68%, and the ChiNext Index slid 2.44%. A total of 875 stocks advanced, 37 hit the daily limit up, and 4,635 declined.
Gas stocks bucked the trend, with Dongfang Huanyu notching a fourth consecutive limit-up and Hongtong Gas also closing at the limit. Consumer names were active, as Haodangjia, Guangbai Co, and Huifa Food all hit the ceiling. Computing-power chip shares rallied intraday, with Enflame Technology up over 10%, while Cambricon and Moore Threads gained more than 8%. On the downside, AI animation-concept stocks slumped, with Shanghai Film hitting the limit down; robotics and physical AI names retreated, with Fulai New Material among those at the limit down.
The plunge was tied to Nvidia. Global equities pulled back as investors weighed the ripple effects of a leadership crisis at the company. Nasdaq futures fell about 1%, Asian markets sold off collectively, and Nvidia shares tumbled as much as 10% in late U.S. trading. A person familiar with the matter said that after reports emerged alleging multiple extramarital affairs by CEO Jensen Huang, Nvidia is working with an outside firm to identify potential CEO successors. The upheaval at Nvidia could further shake market confidence in the artificial intelligence trade. AI themes have been a key driver of global stock gains this year, but as valuations climb and AI capital expenditures swell, investors are scrutinizing the industry more closely.
Analysts said Nvidia's latest developments could weigh on sentiment across the entire AI supply chain, though some semiconductor companies are showing structural investment opportunities, especially those that can provide a reliable second source for critical AI chips. Analysts noted that the controversy surrounding CEO Jensen Huang is widening, and the timing is particularly sensitive—just as optimism about a sustained AI recovery was beginning to build. Nvidia plays a central role in the AI industry's financing system, so a sudden management change could have implications and risks far beyond the company itself. Other analysts said Nvidia is becoming a major problem for the entire AI trade. For decades, Jensen Huang has been the face of the company, so reports that the board might replace him naturally unsettle investors, especially with earnings due in just a few days. The concern is not just who might succeed him, but whether Nvidia can maintain its strategic direction, customer relationships, and execution capability without Huang at the helm. For a company at the core of the AI boom, that is a very significant question. If Nvidia's uncertainty starts to affect corporate investment plans, customer orders, or earnings expectations, Asian markets will find it hard to ignore the matter.
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