The S&P/ASX 200 finished 13 points higher at 5531, while the basic materials sector rose 0.4%.

The big miners were also higher, with BHP Billiton up 0.1% to $A38.28 and Rio Tinto up 0.3% to $62.98.

The iron ore sector saw some positive moves despite recent spot price falls, with Radar Iron up 16.7% to 3.5c on news it had acquired a large iron ore tenement in Western Australia from a joint venture managed by Cliffs Natural Resources.

Atlas Iron was also up 2% to 97.5c on the back of its March quarterly report.

Another positive move came from Syndicated Metals, which climbed 17.1% to 3.4c after announcing high-grade copper hits at its flagship Barbara copper-gold JV in North Queensland.

Also moving higher was gold explorer Mantle Mining Corporation, which rose 46.7% to 2.2c, while Orrex Resources jumped 37.5% to 2.2c.

Still with the winners, Global Strategic Metals rose 33.2% to 2c after receiving approval from the Australian Stock Exchange to be delisted.

Negative moves came from Resource and Investment, which dropped 13.2% to 7.8c after announcing plans to raise up to $6.2 million via a placement and share purchase plan.

Also in the red was PepinNini Minerals, which lost 21.6% to 1.8c after announcing a new entitlements issue to raise up to $1.5 million.

Elsewhere, zinc-lead explorer Rox Resources went into a trading halt pending drilling results, and Argonaut Resources joined it in suspension pending details on a joint venture agreement.

Base metals explorer Argosy Minerals also went on hold to seek legal advice after receiving a demand on an outstanding loan payable to Discovery Africa.