Nvidia (NVDA) Shares Fall 4.3% After CEO Jensen Huang Resigns Amid Scandal

U.S. stock futures rose slightly on Thursday after major indexes dipped, with Nvidia (NVDA) shares falling 4.3% following the resignation of founder and CEO Jensen Huang amid a reported scandal. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 40 points, S&P 500 futures rose about 0.2%, and Nasdaq-100 futures advanced 0.3%. The Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 had each dropped about 0.4% during regular trading, while the Dow declined nearly 190 points, or 0.4%, dragged down by Nvidia's stock performance.

Jensen Huang stepped down after reports of extramarital affairs, including one with a woman U.S. intelligence officials suspect to be a Chinese spy. Colette Kress, Nvidia's CFO, has been appointed interim CEO, with the company searching for a permanent replacement both internally and externally. Analysts have suggested Huang’s exit could trigger a 20% correction in Nvidia’s stock price. Simultaneously, Brent crude oil prices rose more than 3% to $95.82 per barrel, influenced by President Donald Trump's statements expressing opposition to a deal with Iran, fueling concerns of prolonged U.S.-Iran tensions.

Despite the turbulence, U.S. major stock indexes are on track for weekly gains, with the Nasdaq up 3.2%, the S&P 500 gaining 2.9%, and the Dow set for a near 2% rise. Investors await October's producer price index (PPI), expected to report a 0.4% monthly increase and a 6.6% annual rise, which could influence market directions further. These leadership changes at Nvidia and oil price fluctuations exemplify ongoing market volatility and geopolitical influences affecting investors.