** Australian technology shares .AXIJ rise as much as 1.4% to their highest since Dec. 10

** U.S. peers hit a more than one-week high overnight, rallying behind semiconductor stocks .N

** Shares of data centre operator NEXTDC NXT.AX rise as much as 2.5%, on track for best day since Dec. 2 - if current gains hold

** Shares of accounting software provider Xero XRO.AX gain as much as 1.8% to their highest since Dec. 10

** Sub-index gained 49.5% in 2024, compared with a 7.5% increase in the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO

(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)

((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com;))