In London, the FTSE 100 closed slightly lower and market futures were mixed.

Metals and mining stocks gained in Toronto, where rising investor interest in battery mineral equities continues.

Graphite One Inc (TSXV: GPH) jumped 42.3% as it announced the US government had designated its Graphite Creek flake project in Alaska a high-priority infrastructure project.

The company is advancing towards feasibility for the project, which also proposes a plant to convert its concentrate into EV battery-grade coated spherical graphite and purified graphite powders.

Fellow TSXV-listed Bearing Lithium (BRZ) shot up a further 35% yesterday on no news to C27c.

In response to a request last week by the market regulator, it confirmed management was "unaware of any change in the company's operations that would account for the recent increase in market activity".

Its primary asset is a 17.35% interest in the high-grade Maricunga brine project in Chile, which is in the pre-production stage.

Finally, the gold price is similar to this time yesterday at US$1,839 an ounce on the spot market.