LIVE MARKETS-Tech props up the STOXX, construction drags

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TECH PROPS UP THE STOXX, CONSTRUCTION DRAGS

European shares got off to a slightly firmer start on Tuesday, with gains among AI-linked stocks from chipmakers to electrical equipment firms and copper miners helping lift the pan-European STOXX 600 .STOXX index 0.5% in early morning trading.

Tech .SX8P rose 1.9% to its highest in a month, making it the biggest sectoral gainer, while miners .SXPP and industrials .SXNP also advanced. Electrical and digital building infrastructure group Legrand LEGD.PA raised its medium-term targets, sending its shares up 6% and supporting the broader sector.

Construction .SXOP was the worst-performing sector, down 0.5%, with French infrastructure groups such as Eiffage FOUG.PA and Vinci SGEF.PA falling after reports the government plans to increase taxes on motorway and airport operators. Consumer stocks also came under pressure after Swiss chocolatier Lindt LISN.S cut its sales growth guidance.

About 57% of STOXX 600 constituents traded higher. Julius Baer BAER.S topped the index rising 8% after Swiss regulators closed an enforcement case tied to private debt loans and relationships with two politically exposed Russian clients.

London's FTSE 100 .FTSE moved in line with the broader European market, up 0.4%.

(Danilo Masoni)

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