Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- European and U.S. stock-index futures rose and Asian shares gained as higher computer-chip prices lifted the profit outlook for technology companies and investors speculated that mergers will increase. STMicroelectronics NV, Europe’s largest semiconductor maker, and ASM International NV, the second-biggest maker of semiconductor equipment, may advance after the benchmark price for computer memory climbed to the highest level since August 2008. Deutsche Telekom AG may be active after Europe’s biggest telephone company and France Telecom SA agreed to combine their U.K. units. Cadbury Plc will probably move on speculation the maker of Dairy Milk chocolates may attract competing offers after rejecting Kraft Food Inc.’s bid yesterday. Futures on the Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 Index, a benchmark index for the euro region, advanced 0.1 percent to 2,783 at 7:21 a.m. in London. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index may increase 15, according to Cantor Index. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 0.6 percent as Australian business confidence jumped to the highest level in almost six years. Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.8 percent, indicating the gauge may climb after U.S. markets were closed for the Labor Day holiday yesterday. Europe’s Stoxx 600 rose for a third day yesterday as a resurgence of merger speculation boosted food and beverage stocks and mining companies. The regional gauge is valued at 44.8 times profit, near the highest level since September 2003, according to weekly data compiled by Bloomberg. ‘Best Phase’ Credit Suisse Group AG strategists said investors should favor stocks over bonds and cash and forecast gains in equity indexes worldwide ranging from 12 percent for Europe and 23 percent for Japan through mid-2010 as the economy recovers. “This is the best phase of the economic cycle,” a team of strategists led by Andrew Garthwaite in London wrote today. “We do not exclude a period of near-term consolidation, given that some of our tactical indicators are sending a signal of caution. Yet, other indicators suggest it is too early to sell.” STMicroelectronics and ASM International may advance, while Elpida Memory Inc., Japan’s largest maker of dynamic random access memory, gained 4.2 percent to 1,211 yen. Prices of the benchmark 1-gigabit computer-memory chip climbed to $1.71 yesterday, from as low as 58 cents in December, according to Dramexchange Technology Inc., operator of Asia’s biggest spot market for the chips. Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom will probably be active after the two companies agreed to merge their U.K. units to cut costs and create the country’s largest mobile-phone operator. Cadbury, which soared 38 percent yesterday, may be active. The confectioner may attract suitors ranging from Nestle SA to Hershey Co. and sell for as much as $21 billion according to analysts.

Source