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 (2330.TW), opens new tab boosted top chip equipment maker ASML (ASML.AS), opens new tab to a record high.
The pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX), opens new tab 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 (.SX8P), opens new tab climbed 2.5% and was the biggest gainer in the STOXX 600. ASML was last up 6.7% Shares of Swedbank (SWEDa.ST), opens new tab also jumped 5.6% after the U.S. Department of Justice ended its longstanding investigation into the bank.
Meanwhile, Richemont (CFR.S), opens new tab 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.
