Chinese factories slowly returned to business following an extended break due to the coronavirus outbreak, and generally upbeat earnings, positive economic data and China's recent stimulus attracted buyers to the US equities market, Reuters reported.

More than 40,000 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed and more than 900 people have died, according to the World Health Organisation yesterday, which surpasses the death toll from SARS in 2002-2003.

"The real financial impact won't become clear until economic data starts to flow out of China and companies release results for the first quarter of 2020 starting in April," IG analyst Joshua Warner said.

Safe-haven asset gold was down slightly on the spot market to about US$1,567 an ounce earlier.

Vertically integrated steel maker and miner Evraz (LSE: EVR) closed down 2.09% yesterday in London and gold major Newmont (NYSE: NEM) gained 0.9% in New York.

Metals and mining stocks rose 0.27% in Toronto while in Australia, gold producer Evolution Mining (ASX: EVN) was among the five biggest decliners on the S&P/ASX200 in lunchtime trade, down 2.8%.