** Australian technology stocks .AXIJ rise as much as 1.4%, while the broader benchmark .AXJO trades 0.5% higher

** Sub-index logs their largest intraday pct gain since September 19, on track for third consecutive session of gains

** AXIJ set for weekly rise of 0.3%

** Sector constituents Xero XRO.AX and TechnologyOne TNE.AX rise 1.3% and 1.7%, respectively

** Nasdaq Composite .IXIC marked a record closing high overnight on the back of gains in heavyweight technology stocks including AI chip leader Nvidia NVDA.O .N

** YTD, AXIJ up 8.4% vs 10.1% gain on AXJO

(Reporting by Nikita Maria Jino in Bengaluru)

((Nikita.Jino@thomsonreuters.com;))