BUZZ-M&A speculation lifts European semiconductor shares

** Semiconductor shares are among the top gainers in European stock markets as investors bet on further M&A in the sector, following reports that Avago Technologies is close to acquire fellow U.S. chipmaker Broadcom , traders say. ** A deal between Avago and Broadcom (NasdaqGS: BRCM - news) could come as early as this week, the people said. Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) in the companies soared 9 percent and almost 20 percent respectively after the news came out on Wednesday. ** Shares in Infineon (Xetra: 623100 - news) rise as much as 4.3 percent to 12.29 euros - their highest level in 11 years - making them the top gainer in the German blue-chip index DAX. ** In Paris, shares in STMicro rise 2.2 percent, Logitech advance 2.4 percent in Zurich, and ARM in London gain 1.4 percent. ** Worldwide semiconductor M&A reached $31 billion last year, the most since 2011, according to Thomson Reuters data. (RM (LSE: RM.L - news) : kirsti.knolle.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)