Adds blog post

Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com

BEFORE THE BELL: TECH LEADS EUROPE HIGHER AS OIL EASES

European shares are set to open higher on Thursday as Asian chip stocks tentatively rebound and Brent crude eases from three-week highs, although concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz linger after more Iran-related strikes.

EuroSTOXX50 .STOXX50E and DAX .GDAXI futures are up about 1%, while commodity-heavy FTSE .FTSE futures gain 0.4%. Technology is set to provide much of the early support, with U.S. futures recovering from Wednesday's lows.

Semiconductors remain in the spotlight after reports China could allow domestic AI firms limited access to Nvidia's NVDA.O H200 chips.

ASML ASML.AS, Infineon IFXGn.DE and STMicroelectronics STMPA.PA are indicated around 2% higher before the cash open, as investors reverse part of the sector's recent selloff. Elsewhere, action was set by broker moves and earnings.

Dutch information services and software group Wolters Kluwer WLSNc.AS, which has come under pressure this year on concerns about potential AI disruption to its business, jumps almost 4% after JPMorgan upgrades the stock to "overweight".

Nordic non-life insurer Sampo SAMPO.HE is also set to gain after a Goldman Sachs upgrade to "buy".

German wind turbine maker Nordex NDXG.DE rises about 3% after reporting second-quarter order intake of 3.1 GW, reinforcing evidence of solid demand in the wind sector.

Schott Pharma 1SXP.DE climbs around 10% after raising its full-year outlook following stronger-than-expected preliminary quarterly figures.

(Danilo Masoni)

*****

EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

CHIP EUPHORIA VIES WITH WAR WEARINESS CLICK HERE