** Shares in rate-sensitive European chip stocks fall as the tension in the Middle East continues with U.S. President Donald Trump saying Washington to hit Iran "extremely hard" over the next two to three weeks, sparking concerns over supply disruptions and energy prices
** STOXX Europe Technology index .SX8P falls 2.8%, tracking for its worst daily drop since February 3 and is among the worst performers on the pan-European STOXX 600 .STOXX index
** BESI BESI.AS, Soitec SOIT.PA, ams OSRAM AMS.S and AT & S ATSV.VI slump between 5.2% and 6.2%
** STMicroelectronics STMPA.PA, ASMI ASMI.AS, Siltronic WAFGn.DE and ASML ASML.AS are down between 3.7% and 4.5%
** Aixtron AIXGn.DE and Infineon IFXGn.DE fall 3.9% and 4.5%, respectively
** X-Fab XFAB.PA and Jenoptik JENGn.DE are down 3% and 4.1%, respectively
(Reporting by Ozan Ergenay)
((ozan.ergenay@thomsonreuters.com))