Tech firms clawed back on Monday some of last week's losses fuelled by AI regulation worries, though gains were tempered by news of a probe into Nvidia boss Jensen Huang and claims of an affair with a Chinese spy.
Chipmakers and other companies linked to the artificial intelligence boom took a hammering in the days after Tuesday's US midterms saw Democrats sweep both chambers of Congress in a rebuke to Donald Trump and his Republican Party.
The results suggested voters were angry at the president's Iran war and tariffs, which have sent prices soaring, as well as a sharp kickback against the huge data centre buildout that has taken place across the country in recent years.
That has led to speculation the new Congress will seek to wind in tech firms' construction drive, which could put thousands of jobs at risk.
The uncertainty comes with traders already nervous about when the hundreds of billions of dollars pumped into the sector would actually see a profit.
After taking a lashing on Thursday, Wall Street enjoyed a little stability at the end of last week, and Asia -- which had suffered a hammering itself on Friday -- largely followed suit to start this week.
Japan's Nikkei 225 rose more than two percent thanks to gains in Tokyo Electron, Advantest and Sony.
Taipei jumped more than four percent as the Tawainese government pledged support for the market, including curbs on short selling and the back-up of a US$15.2 billion stock stabilisation fund.
There were also gains in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok and Jakarta.
However, Seoul gave up an early rally to end lower, with chipmakers SK hynix and Samsung giving up most of their gains.
"Investors will be watching carefully this week to get a sense as to whether these gains are just short-covering, bargain hunting or the beginning of something more sustainable in nature," said Sally Auld at National Australia Bank.
"Fears around AI regulation, the outlook for (capital expenditure) and free cash flow have been the driver of risk reduction in recent weeks and these issues are not likely to be resolved with any conviction in the near term.
"Nonetheless, the valuation of many tech stocks now looks less expensive."
However, a little more uncertainty was injected into markets with news that Nvidia's board was launching an investigation into whether Huang had been targeted in a foreign espionage plot following his admission that he was unfaithful to his wife.
The New York Times reported last month that US intelligence officials concluded a Chinese executive linked to a Singapore-based data centre company called Megaspeed had been funnelling information to Beijing.
The executive, Alice Huang -- also known as Huang Le, and no relation to 63-year-old Taiwanese-born Jensen -- developed a close relationship with the Nvidia boss, the Times said.
Nvidia is a global leader in producing chips used to train and run AI models and one of the world's most valuable companies, and last year became the first to reach a market capitalisation of $5 trillion.
Jensen Huang is a huge figure in the AI revolution and a close informal adviser to Trump, and the Times said the Nvidia boss's extra-marital relationship could have revealed insights into Trump's thinking around AI.
Technology analyst Dan Ives, at investment bank Yorkville Ives, said the crisis will at the very least spark multiple congressional inquiries and "create an overhang on the stock for a myriad of reasons".
"This will add risk to the stock as he is so important to the Nvidia story and strategy globally," Ives added. "This will also increase major scrutiny regarding selling chips to China, which remains a key battleground issue in DC."
Oil prices extended losses on hopes for an end to the Iran war following last week's huge Democratic victory.
Investors will be keeping tabs this week on the release of fresh US inflation data, after figures on Friday showed the economy created far more jobs than expected in October.
The figures will be key for the Federal Reserve in determining whether or not to hike interest rates when it meets next in December, with markets saying there is an 80 percent chance of a lift.
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.3 percent at 59,775.50 (close)
Seoul - Kospi: DOWN 0.8 percent at 5,018.85 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.1 percent at 24,513.86
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,660.79 (close)
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.5 percent at $89.50 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 1.9 percent at $96.42 per barrel
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1165 from $1.1138 on Friday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3386 from $1.3350
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 158.15 from 158.46 yen
Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.41 from 83.43 pence
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.5 percent at 51,285.73 (close)
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.0 percent at 10,673.94 (close)
dan/lga
