STOXX up 0.6
Bpost falls to record low on lowerthanexpected guidance
UK39;s JD Sports top loser on FTSE 100 on Barclays downgrade

July 3 Reuters European shares rose on Wednesday as investors welcomed dovish comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and looked ahead to the second round of the French vote and national elections in the UK.

The panEuropean STOXX 600 index was up 0.6 as of 0845 GMT, rising for a second session out of the last seven.

Wall Street39;s benchmark SP 500 closed above the 5,500 mark on Tuesday after Powell told a panel that recent data represented significant progress on inflation, while adding that the Fed needed to see more data before changing policy.

Technology stocks added 1.6, underpinned by Dutch semiconductor equipment makers ASMI and BE Semiconductor Industries, jumping 2.7 and 6.3, respectively.

At some point, there will be some correction in the markets to the downside. When this starts for semiconductors, other sectors should be there to give support and limit the SP 50039;s losses, said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, market analyst at Swissquote.

Miners were the top sectoral gainers, rising 1.7, after copper prices climbed on a softer dollar amid renewed hopes of U.S. rate cuts and as supply jitters offset a dismal outlook for physical demand from top consumer China.

French stocks climbed 1 as opponents of France39;s National Rally RN stepped up their bid to block the farright party from power, with more candidates agreeing to…