By Sara Sjolin
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- European stock markets moved higher in early action on Wednesday, with oil firms in the lead after a well-received earnings report from Total SA FR:FP +1.91% TOT +0.12% . Investors were also waiting for hints from the U.S. when markets reopen later in the day after a two-day closure on the back of what had been Hurricane Sandy. The Stoxx Europe 600 index XX:SXXP +0.25% added 0.4% to 272.77, with Total up 1.7%. Among U.K. oil firms, Royal Dutch Shell PLC UK:RDSB +0.64% RDS.B +0.11% gained 0.7% and BP PLC UK:BP +1.02% BP -0.10% picked up 0.9%. The FTSE 100 index UK:UKX -0.01% traded 0.3% higher at 5,865.55. Steel maker ArcelorMittal SA FR:MT +3.21% dropped 2.5% in Paris after cutting its dividends. The CAC 40 index FR:PX1 +0.53% rose 0.6% to 3,481.09. Germany's DAX 30 index DX:DAX +0.62% gained 0.7% to 7,331.48.
