MINYANVILLE ORIGINAL The three most active funds and stocks in pre-market trading on the NYSE were Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (NYSE:FCX), McMoRan Exploration (NYSE:MMR), and Plains Exploration & Production Company (NYSE:PXP) as of 9:20 a.m. EST.

Investors exchanged 7.51 million shares of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, which was down $5.03, or 13.14%. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold announced it will buy Plains Exploration & Production and McMoRan Exploration for about $9 billion.

Investors traded 5.67 million shares of McMoRan Exploration, which was up $6.29, or 75.34%.

Investors also traded 4.94 million shares of Plains Exploration & Production Company, which was up $9.00, or 24.97%.

(See also: Pre-Market Primer: Hurricane Sandy Impacts Private Sector Employment.)

Twitter: @ChrisWitrak