"Volatility has picked up in markets - crude has been at the epi-centre of this, with WTI crude falling 6.6% and having the second big leak in a week," Pepperstone head of research Chris Weston said.
Base metals were mostly lower on the London Metal Exchange, with copper falling 1.51% to below $9,000 per tonne, to $8,979/t.
Gold was slightly lower on the spot market, about US$1,726 an ounce at the time of writing.
Fire River Gold (TSXV: FAU.H) was an exception in Toronto yesterday, up 44% to close at a one-year high of C44c on no news.
The company, which at the start of the month had said it may be "regarded as dormant" until it secured finance, last week raised $1 million at 14c per unit.
It said the proceeds were for the company's general working capital.
In London, Premier African Minerals (AIM: PREM) saw a big volume traded but closed down 13.3% to 22p.
It had peaked at 49p mid-month on news of being granted an exclusive prospecting order for its Zulu lithium project in Zimbabwe and deciding to retain and develop the project rather than seek a joint venture.
Finally among the majors, Newmont closed down 1.26% in New York, Rio Tinto lost 0.76% in London and BHP was flat in morning trade.
