Gold prices on Tuesday staged their biggest gain since last November, with Comex futures jumping $22 an ounce, or 1.67%, to $1,340. Since its recent low on Jan. 24, the yellow metal was up 4.77%, and up almost 14% from its 52-week low on Aug. 16.

Gold mining stocks, as usual, outpaced bullion. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (ticker:GDX), which tracks the big miners, jumped 3.17% on Tuesday, to $23.14, just shy of its 52-week high. The more volatile VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) popped 4.22%, also within...