Feb. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Copper and aluminum advanced for a third day after U.S. pending home sales increased 1 percent in December after a 16 percent drop in November that was the largest since records began in 2001.

Copper for three-month delivery increased 0.7 percent to $6,860 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange and aluminum gained 0.3 percent to $2,126 a ton.