EU chip shares rise as Anthropic expansion plans fuel AI demand optimism

** Shares in European semiconductor firms rise as investors bet continued massive AI investment will support long-term chip demand after Reuters reported Anthropic is making a major bet on AI-driven economic growth and plans to tap public investors to help finance its expansion

** STOXX Technology index .SX8P rises around 2%, outperforming the wider STOXX 600 .STOXX, which gains 0.3%

** Among single stocks, sector heavyweight Infineon IFXGn.DE, ASML ASML.AS, Besi BESI.AS and ASMI ASMI.AS are up between 2.5% and 3.7%

** AT & S ATSV.VI, Aixtron AIXGn.DE and Siltronic WAFGn.DE rise between 4.3% and 4.8%, while ams OSRAM jumps 7.3%

** STMicroelectronics STMPA.PA and Melexis MLXS.BR are up 2.7% and 4.1%, respectively

** Soitec SOIT.PA, X-FAB XFAB.PA and Technoprobe TPRO.MI rise between 3.4% and 5.5%