Stocks close lower as investors search for directions amid AI sector uncertainties

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SEOUL, Nov. 9 (Yonhap) -- Seoul stocks closed lower Monday as investors digest uncertainties facing the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, including an internal probe at Nvidia Corp., following allegations its chief was targeted by a Chinese spy.

After rocky trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed down 40.84 points, or 0.81 percent, to 5,018.85.

"Investors were searching for direction while bargain hunting continued in semiconductors," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst from Daishin Securities.

Semiconductors recovered some ground as concerns over the future of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers following the Democrats' sweeping victory in the United States midterms eased. However, the scandal involving Nvidia Corp.'s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jensen Huang caused fresh jitters, he added.

The U.S. chip giant announced in a statement Sunday (U.S. time) it will open an internal probe into Huang's alleged affair with a suspected Chinese spy.

In a message to Nvidia employees, Huang admitted to being unfaithful to his wife and took "full responsibility" for his actions.

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