BUZZ-Synaptics climbs on Google AI partnership

** Shares of Synaptics SYNA.O up 6.1% at $80.99 on Thurs after semiconductor firm announces artificial intelligence partnership with Alphabet's GOOGL.O Google

** SYNA shares climb as much as 9.5% on the session to $83.60, a three-week high

** San Jose, California-based co said early Thurs it is collaborating with Google on Edge AI

** Collaboration will integrate Google's machine learning core on SYNA's Astra hardware with open-source software and tools, per the statement

** Of 11 analysts covering SYNA, recommendation breakdown is 6 "buy" and 5 "hold" ratings with $93.50 median PT, per LSEG data

** Stock lost 33% of its value in 2024. That compares to ~14% drop in S&P 400 Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment index .SPMDCSE last year

(Lance Tupper is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)

((lance.tupper@tr.com 1-646-279-6380))