ASMI jumps on brokerage upgrade, Lufthansa falls on downgrade
SNB cuts rates, Norway c.bank holds rates
STOXX 600 up 0.4

June 20 Reuters European shares gained on Thursday, boosted by an advance in technology and real estate stocks, while Swiss equities gained after the central bank continued to loosen monetary policy.

The panEuropean STOXX 600 gained 0.4 as of 0820 GMT. Technology stocks led the gains, rising 1.2, while real estate jumped about 1.

Lifting the tech index was ASMI, which jumped 5.1 after Morgan Stanley upgraded the semiconductor equipment manufacturer to overweight from equalweight.

Switzerland39;s benchmark index gained 0.4 after the Swiss National Bank cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 1.25, maintaining its position as a frontrunner in the global policy easing cycle.

Norway39;s central bank on the other hand, opted to hold its key policy interest rate at a 16year high of 4.50 and said a cut was expected in 2025. Norwegian stocks were flat.

Later in the day, the Bank of England will announce its policy decision.

The market is positioning for rate cuts, not just in the UK … there39;s a generic assessment going on in terms of how much easing can we expect in light of the uncertainty regarding the French elections, Bas van Geffen, Senior Macro Strategist at Rabobank said.

UK39;s FTSE 100 was last up 0.2.

On the data front, German producer prices fell slightly more than expected in May, while a preliminary reading of euro zone June…