European stocks finished Tuesday's session slightly higher, as investors awaited U.S.-China trade talks, although critical comments from President Donald Trump did test market optimism. The pan-European STOXX 600 closed up 0.24 percent provisionally, with most sectors ending the day in the black. On the bourses front, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 fell 0.34 percent, as weakness from British-listed miners weighed. The French CAC 40 and German DAX finished on an upbeat note, up 0.54 percent and 0.43 percent respectively.

Oil and gas stocks were some of Europe's top performers, finishing up 0.82 percent as a sector amid earnings news. Energy services company Wood Group reported slightly stronger-than-anticipated figures for the first six months of the year and said its integration with Amec Foster Wheeler was progressing ahead of schedule. By the market close, the firm jumped to the top of the STOXX 600, up 7.65 percent. Other energy stocks that boosted were top benchmark gainers including Saipem and Siemens Gamesa. A rise in oil prices, which were spurred on by the opportunity of price support from U.S. sanctions on Iran, also lifted stocks in the sector. Basic resources stocks came under pressure, making it one of five sectors to close in the red. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto were the worst sectoral performers. BHP reported a 33 percent jump in annual underlying profit on Tuesday. However, the world's largest miner also warned investors of a delay in future savings as well as some cost pressures over the coming months. Shares of BHP Billiton slipped over 2 percent by the close. Looking at individual stocks, Britain's Aggreko surged over 4.5 percent after HSBC upwardly revised its stock recommendation to a "buy" from a "hold." Meantime, Metro Bank was one of the STOXX 600's biggest losers, falling over 3 percent, after Panmure Gordon cut its target price on the lender.

Trump comments