** Australian technology stocks .AXIJ rise as much as 2.1%, while the broader benchmark .AXJO trades largely unchanged

** Sub-index logs biggest intraday pct gain since December 19

** U.S.-listed memory and storage chipmakers hit record highs overnight on renewed investor optimism in artificial intelligence .N

** Sector leaders WiseTech Global WTC.AX and Xero XRO.AX climb as much as 2.1% and 2.6%, respectively

** Xero set to gain most in nearly three weeks

** AXIJ shed 21% last year, lagging behind a 6.8% rise on AXJO

(Reporting by Nikita Maria Jino in Bengaluru)

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