** Shares of memory chip companies rise premarket after reports say chip shortages to increase memory prices

** Micron Technology MU.O up 3.5%, SanDisk SNDK.O up 4.2%, Western Digital WDC.O up 3.4%

** Applied Digital APLD.O up 2.6%, Seagate Technology STX.O up 2.5%

** Samsung Electronics 005930.KS and SK Hynix 000660.KS are pushing for server-memory price increases of as much as 70%, according to a report by The Korea Economic Daily

** Samsung Electronics co-CEO T M Roh also told Reuters that the global shortage of memory chips was "unprecedented"

(Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru)

((tharuniyaa@thomsonreuters.com))