Chinese markets for lithium, a key battery metal, are seeing heightened volatility after investors bid up prices to guard against possible supply disruptions.
Lithium carbonate traded on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange rose by its daily limit of 8% on Friday, capping a 14% gain for the week. That prompted the bourse to issue a notice reining in speculative trades, which helped push futures limit down on Monday. Shares of producers have also jumped, with Tianqi Lithium Corp. and Chengxin Lithium Group Co. both rallying around 25% this month in Shenzhen.