STOXX 600 holds steady
Ericcson drops after downbeat Q4 forecast
Nordic Semiconductor at bottom of STOXX on weak outlook
RollsRoyce gains on job cuts plan

Oct 17 Reuters European stocks were flat on Tuesday as a slew of downbeat earnings reports countered a boost from healthcare and energy shares amid a slight pullback in concerns about risks from the Middle East conflict.

The panEuropean STOXX 600 index was almost unchanged at 449.52 points by 836 GMT after a modest rise in the previous session.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to make a high stakes visit to Israel on Wednesday to show support for its war on Hamas.

Although still tense, the mood regarding the Middle East appears to be a bit less pessimistic than it was, given all the efforts that are being made to try and stop the conflict spreading widely, said Stuart Cole, chief macro economist at Equiti Capital.

Healthcare shares offered some reprieve on Tuesday, up 0.4, with Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk rising 1.6.

Energy shares added 0.2, tracking crude prices higher.

UK39;s FTSE 100 rose 0.4 as the pound declined after data showing a slowdown in Britain39;s regular wage growth supported hopes of a pause in the Bank of England39;s tightening cycle.

Shares of Ericsson dropped 7.8 to their lowest in six years after the Swedish network equipment provider39;s fourthquarter guidance missed expectations and the company flagged uncertainty around the recovery of its mobile networks business….