July 15 (Bloomberg) -- European and U.S. stock futures advanced and Asian shares climbed after Intel Corp., the world’s biggest chipmaker, forecast sales that exceeded analysts’ estimates. Intel rose as much as 8.4 percent in extended U.S. trading, while STMicroelectronics NV may lead technology shares higher in Europe. Rio Tinto Group, the world’s third-largest mining company, advanced in Asia after copper climbed and as the company reaffirmed its iron-ore output guidance. Futures on the Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 Index, a benchmark for the euro region, added 1.1 percent to 2,388 at 7:53 a.m. in London. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index may increase 31, according to Cantor Index, a betting firm. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures advanced 0.8 percent today, and the MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.9 percent. Europe’s Stoxx 600 has climbed 3.2 percent this week after companies from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to Johnson & Johnson reported earnings that beat analysts’ estimates. The gauge has still fallen 5.3 percent since June 11 on speculation share prices have outpaced the outlook for the economy after a three- month rally pushed valuations to the highest level since 2004. “The bull run for equities looks set to continue apace into Wednesday’s session with yesterday’s better than forecast results from Goldman Sachs clearly providing some cheer,” Matthew Buckland, a dealer at CMC Markets in London, wrote. STMicroelectronics, ASML STMicroelectronics, Europe’s biggest chipmaker, and Infineon Technologies AG, the second-largest, may gain. Intel said third-quarter sales will be as much as $8.9 billion. That compares with an average estimate of $7.86 billion in a Bloomberg survey of analysts. ASML Holding NV may climb. Europe’s largest maker of semiconductor equipment reported a second-quarter loss of 104 million euros ($145.5 million). Analysts in a Bloomberg survey predicted a loss of 109.6 million euros. Rio Tinto added 1.4 percent to A$49.79 in Australia. Copper in Shanghai climbed for a second day to a two-week high on speculation China’s demand for the metal may grow further as the country’s economy improved. Separately, Rio Tinto reaffirmed its full-year output guidance of 200 million tons. Sanofi-Aventis SA may be active. The drugmaker said all four studies on its Lantus drug have significant methodological limitations and shortcomings, citing an “expert statement.” Next Upgrades Next Plc, the U.K.’s second-largest clothing retailer, was raised to “buy” at Deutsche Bank AG and to “overweight” at Morgan Stanley. “The opportunity to buy one of the best-quality U.K. retailers for one of the lowest prices seems very attractive,” Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a report. Alcatel-Lucent SA, the world’s biggest maker of fixed-line networks, was upgraded to “buy’ at Bank of America Corp., which said the stock was “oversold.” Industrial production in the U.S. probably fell in June at the slowest pace in eight months, adding to signs the worst of the recession is over, economists said before a report today. Output at manufacturers, mines and utilities decreased 0.6 percent after dropping 1.1 percent in May, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey. Other figures may show fuel prices pushed up the cost of living last month and manufacturing in the New York region improved in July. The 34 percent rebound in the S&P 500 since March 9 shows few hallmarks of a bull market, and stocks will probably stagnate for years, ISI Group Inc.’s Jeffrey deGraaf said. The S&P 500 is at a level it first surpassed in 1997 even after the steepest quarterly advance in a decade, and is down 43 percent from its October 2007 record, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The main benchmark for American equities probably will continue to make “no net price progress” for at least two more years, deGraaf, who was the top-ranked technical analyst in Institutional Investor magazine’s poll for the past four years, said in an interview.

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