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June 6 (Reuters) - European shares opened higher on

Thursday, boosted by technology stocks, while investors geared

up for the European Central Bank's key interest rate decision

later in the day.

The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.6% as of 0720

GMT, hitting its highest level in three weeks.

Market participants will await the ECB's interest rate

decision, due at 1215 GMT, where the central bank is expected to

ease borrowing costs by 25 basis points (bps) from its present

record level of 4%.

Money markets are presently pricing in 64 bps of cuts this

year, as per LSEG data.

Technology stocks continued to lead, up 1.8% to hit

nearly a 24-year high, extending gains from the previous

session. Healthcare also aided gains, up 1% as Novo

Nordisk rose 3.5% to hit a fresh record high.

Helping the upbeat sentiment, the U.S. benchmark index S&P

500 and Nasdaq hit record closing highs on

Wednesday after more evidence of easing labour market pressures

firmed bets of a Federal Reserve rate cut in September.

Among individual stocks, Remy Cointreau added 4.9%

after the French cognac maker reported a smaller-than-expected

drop in it annual profit and predicted a recovery over the

coming year.