European Chip Firm ASML Lifts Guidance

VELDHOVEN, Netherlands (TheStreet) - More good news from the semiconductor industry as ASML(ASML Quote), the world's largest maker of semiconductor lithography machines, said it expects net sales above 500 million euros ($728.7 million) in the third and fourth quarters as demand picks up in certain chip segments.

The Dutch chip equipment maker, in a statement Thursday, also said third-quarter bookings would be "significantly" above those levels "resulting mainly from the short- and mid-term needs in the DRAM memory and Logic segments. "

ASML in July said it expected third-quarter net sales of about 450 million euros.

ASML's announcement follows word from Texas Instruments (TXN Quote) that it was raising its third-quarter sales and profit forecast , fueling talk of a further tech resurgence.

Texas Instruments said Wednesday it now expects revenue of between $2.73 billion and $2.87 billion, up from its prior range of between $2.5 billion and $2.8 billion.

-- Reported by Joseph Woelfel in New York .