The copper price rose about 0.7% in London yesterday, but it fell for the second straight day in Asian trade, Marex Spectron's Anna Stablum on the Singapore desk said.

Meanwhile tensions are escalating in Hong Kong, Brexit was the hot topic in a UK leadership debate ahead of the December 12 election and US president Donald Trump has reportedly said he would raise tariffs "even higher" if the US did not make a deal with China.

The World Trade Organisation said earlier this week world merchandise trade was expected to "remain below trend" this quarter as trade tensions took their toll.

"Some components of the [goods trade] barometer have stabilised since the last reading in August, while others remain on a downward trajectory reflecting heightened trade tensions and rising tariffs in key sectors," the WTO said.

Market futures were mixed today and the S&P500 was pointing to a lower start after notching up a series of record highs.

In Australian trade, Saracen Mineral Holdings (ASX: SAR) was down 9.7% in lunchtime trade as it came out of a trading halt, having raised A$701 million to partly fund its US$750 million acquisition of Barrick Gold's 50% stake in the Super Pit at Kalgoorlie.

However its price of A$3.06 at the time of writing was above the placement price of $2.95 per share.