European stocks slipped on Thursday as investors assessed a slew of corporate earnings, while escalating tensions in the Middle East threatened to disrupt energy supplies again, reinforcing inflation fears.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) shed 0.4% to 638.83 points by 0829 GMT, with utilities, down 1.1%, leading broad-based sectoral losses.
European tech stocks also fell, with chip equipment maker ASML's shares (ASML.AS) reversing early gains, while semiconductor stocks STMicroelectronics (STMPA.PA) and BE Semiconductor (BESI.AS) were down 3% and 2%, respectively.
The slide in tech shares came despite Taiwan's TSMC (2330.TW), the world's largest producer of advanced AI chips, reporting a record 77% jump in second-quarter profit, underscoring robust demand for AI infrastructure.
The sector has shown signs of cooling this month following a strong run in the previous quarter.
Investors continue looking ahead to what is expected to be Europe's strongest earnings season in more than three years, even as concerns persist over the region's lack of major AI exposure like the United States as well as rising costs linked to the Mideast conflict.
Those concerns have weighed on the STOXX index this month, which has slipped about 2% from the record high it hit on July 3. Renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities have also prompted investors to ramp up bets for at least one 25-basis-point rate hike by the European Central Bank by year end, LSEG data showed.
"For the time being, we prefer to be neutral (on) U.S. versus Europe, and slightly overweight Europe as far as we believe the conflict can abate again," said Michele Morganti, senior equity strategist at Generali Investments.
"We think that Europe can then recover in terms of the economic momentum and earnings can recover too."
Among individual companies, shares of Delivery Hero (DHER.DE) slipped 0.6% after Uber (UBER.N) said it launched a public takeover offer valuing the German food delivery company at about $14.8 billion. Delivery Hero has rallied nearly 70% so far this year following reports of the imminent bid.
Meanwhile, ABB (ABBN.S) slipped 3.3% after it announced a $5.5 billion takeover of automation company Rotork (ROR.L), and it said its second-quarter operating profits beat expectations. Rotork's shares soared 66%.
In regional earnings, Swedish industrial technology group Indutrade (INDT.ST) jumped 11.6% after reporting better-than-expected second-quarter results.
Telenor (TEL.OL) tumbled 11.6% after the Norwegian telecom operator cut its 2026 outlook following weaker-than-expected second-quarter earnings.
French advertising group Publicis (PUBP.PA) rose 1.4% after reporting higher first-half revenue, driven by strong demand for AI-driven marketing services.
