The copper cash price gained 0.46% on the London Metal Exchange, while gold was down about US$4 an ounce to $1,505/oz on the spot market.
Among the majors, Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) closed 2.7% higher in New York.
Zijin Mining has said it will acquire Freeport's copper-gold assets in Serbia for up to US$390 million.
Base and precious metals explorer Callinex Mines (TSX: CNX) jumped more than 28% yesterday on no news.
Shares in the company started to rise in October as it started its 2019 drilling campaign in the Bathurst mining district of New Brunswick.
In Toronto, First Quantum Minerals (TSX: FM) closed up 6.7%.
Mining majors in London also showed strong gains.
Glencore (LSE: GLEN) rose 4.7% and Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) closed 3% higher.
Metals and mining stocks in Australia were up 0.4% around the time of the Melbourne Cup, the annual horse race said to stop the nation.
BHP (ASX: BHP) was up 1.2% at the time of writing.
