"The recovery in manufacturing PMI is likely to be a one-off rather than any indication of structural change in the Chinese economy, and the risk of power restrictions returning remains as we approach winter," Marex's Al Munro said from the LME desk.

"In addition, with China likely to impose stricter border control to prevent the spreads of Omicron, which was already evident with import suspension from Mongolia's Erenhot port; it could suggest China manufacturing demand will encounter more headwinds in the coming months."

Both copper and nickel closed down more than 1.5%.

The gold price dipped to US$1,774 an ounce on the spot market in reaction to US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell's "hawkish" comments about the possibility of more aggressive tapering.

Amarillo Gold (TSXV: AGC) was the standout among mining equities in Toronto, closing up 80% to C40.5c, as 17.7% shareholder Eric Sprott announced his support for the takeover by Hochschild Mining.

Finally, Glencore was little changed in London after activist fund Bluebell Capital Partners reportedly asked it to separate its thermal coal business because it had become a barrier to investment.