Jan 15 (Reuters) – European shares extended gains on Thursday as a slew of benign economic data suggested resilience in the region’s economy, while strong earnings from TSMC boosted top chip equipment maker ASML to a record high.
The pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.3% by 0805 GMT, after hitting an all-time high a day earlier.
Tech investors cheered earnings from TSMC, the world’s main producer of advanced AI chips, which posted a stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter profit.
The European technology index climbed 2.5% and was the biggest gainer in the STOXX 600. ASML was last up 6.7%
Shares of Swedbank also jumped 5.6% after the U.S. Department of Justice ended its longstanding investigation into the bank.
Meanwhile, Richemont was up 1% after the luxury group reported an 11% increase in third-quarter constant currency sales, beating expectations.
While investors have mostly focused on corporate cues this week, macroeconomic data also added to the upbeat tone on Thursday.
Britain’s economy grew more strongly than expected in November, data showed.
Separately, consumer prices in Sweden, measured with a fixed interest rate, rose 2.1% in December, compared with the same month a year earlier, in line with the central bank’s target.
(Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
