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June 20 (Reuters) - European shares opened higher on

Thursday, boosted by rising technology shares, with the focus

squarely on interest rate decisions by several central banks

across the region later in the day.

The pan-European STOXX 600 gained 0.3% as of 0713

GMT. Technology stocks led gains, rising 0.7%, with

construction and materials also rising 0.7%.

Lifting the tech index was ASMI, which jumped 4.1%

after Morgan Stanley upgraded the semiconductor equipment

manufacturer to "overweight" from "equal-weight".

Later in the day, central banks in England, Switzerland and

Norway are set to announce their monetary policy decisions. UK's

FTSE 100 rose 0.1%, while Switzerland's benchmark

edged 0.1% down.

Among other stocks, French food group Danone said

it is targeting annual sales growth between 3% and 5% over the

next four years. Its shares slipped 2.9% early on.

Tate & Lyle ( TATYF ) fell 6.5% after the British food

ingredients maker said it will buy U.S.-based CP Kelco for $1.8

billion from J.M. Huber Corporation. Its shares were also

trading ex-dividend.

(Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane

Venkatraman

)