The TSX composite was higher, rising 138.85 points to 12,751.90 in mid-morning trading on Tuesday. The Dow was up 5.35 to 15,340.63, while NASDAQ lost 2.65 to 3,493.78.
RBC cut the rating on Aurcana Corp. (TSX: V.AUN, Stock Forum) to underperform from sector perform given the continued slow ramp-up of Shafter, silver price weakness and balance sheet health. It fell 24% to $2.13 in mid-morning trading.
In the U.S. the Federal Open Market Committee releases the minutes of its April 30-May 1 meeting tomorrow.
Policy makers said after their last meeting that they will keep buying $85 billion of bonds every month, while standing ready to raise or lower purchases as conditions evolve.
The price of gold dropped US$23.70 to US$1,370.01 an ounce, while silver slipped US$0.60 to U$22.31 an ounce.