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High Voltage: Lithium prices (may) have hit rock bottom – next, the upswing
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Each week our High Voltage column wraps all the news driving ASX battery metals stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese and vanadium.
INDUSTRY FOCUS
The evidence is mounting. For lithium prices — and accompanying sentiment — an upswing is on the horizon.
This is especially welcome news for beleaguered ASX-listed producers, like Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS), Altura Mining (ASX:AJM), Galaxy Resources (ASX:GXY), and Orocobre (ASX:ORE) which have been shedding market cap at a rapid rate.
Its even better news for investors in bankrupt Alita Resources (ASX:A40) (if/when administers can find a way to get that rattletrap firing again).
Last Tuesday, a Goldman Sachs note said that to ensure capacity comes online to meet projected demand growth “we believe the long-term lithium price needs to incorporate an incentive component above the marginal cost”.
“As industry specialist Benchmark Mineral Intelligence has noted: ‘while a downturn in prices has reflected a necessary correction towards near-term market fundamentals, it fails to represent the increasing possibility of another major deficit in the market by the early 2020s’.”
They aren’t the only ones who believe lithium’s bad days are numbered.
If @j_m_hofer is calling a #lithium bottom, I am, of course, listening. My question is: can you pronounce the 普通话 in your tweet? Jokes aside, I agree with @benchmarkmin & @GoldmanSachs – a bottom to price and market sentiment is near. https://t.co/WfQ6NuhfrJ
— Joe Lowry (@globallithium) October 25, 2019
NOW READ: That ‘15% EV penetration by 2024’ prediction is impossible
SMALL CAP SPOTLIGHT
Graphite players were well represented this week.
Hexagon (ASX:HXG) was up 24 per cent on no news; Kibaran (ASX:KNL) unveiled a name change to EcoGraf and jumped 21 per cent; and Walkabout (ASX:WKT) was up 16.4 per cent (now +200 per cent for the year) after announcing plans to raise $US40m ($58.7m) to help build its Lindi graphite project.
But #1 this week was Latin Resources (ASX:LRS), up 77.8 per cent.
Latin has put its South American lithium project troubles behind it, signing a deal to acquire private company Electric Metals, which owns the 54 sq km Noombenberry halloysite project near Perth.
Halloysite-kaolin is a special type of aluminous clay that can be used to create high purity alumina (HPA), which is in demand because it helps stop lithium-ion batteries from catching fire. There are also potential opportunities in nanotechnology, among other things.
Investor interest in kaolin/halloysite has been ignited by market darling Andromeda Metals (ASX:ADN).
Andromeda is up 616 per cent over the past year as its Poochera halloysite-kaolin project in South Australia moves rapidly toward a development decision.
NOW READ: Andromeda’s success sparks a new high purity alumina rush
Here’s a table of ASX battery metal stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese and vanadium>>>
Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort. Best viewed on a laptop:
| Ticker | Name | 1 Week Total Return % | 1 Year Total Return % | Share Price [Monday intraday) | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRS | LATIN RESOURCES | 77.8% | -84.0% | 0.014 | $ 2,491,186.00 |
| SRN | SUREFIRE RESOURCES | 42.9% | 11.1% | 0.009 | $ 6,281,536.50 |
| DEV | DEVEX RESOURCES | 41.2% | 150.0% | 0.115 | $ 18,361,026.00 |
| HXG | HEXAGON RESOURCES | 23.9% | -57.8% | 0.064 | $ 16,631,654.00 |
| KNL | KIBARAN RESOURCES | 21.5% | -54.9% | 0.07 | $ 24,221,608.00 |
| MQR | MARQUEE RESOURCES | 21.0% | -37.5% | 0.074 | $ 4,770,757.50 |
| AVL | AUSTRALIAN VANADIUM | 20.0% | -68.4% | 0.0115 | $ 30,567,844.00 |
| WCN | WHITE CLIFF MINERALS | 20.0% | -50.0% | 0.006 | $ 2,822,099.25 |
| LCD | LATITUDE CONSOLIDATED | 18.8% | -20.8% | 0.019 | $ 5,228,401.00 |
| WKT | WALKABOUT RESOURCES | 16.4% | 204.8% | 0.305 | $ 101,410,824.00 |
| MLM | METALLICA MINERALS | 15.4% | -55.9% | 0.015 | $ 4,860,711.00 |
| ADV | ARDIDEN | 14.3% | -42.9% | 0.004 | $ 6,762,081.00 |
| INR | IONEER | 13.2% | -10.4% | 0.23 | $ 317,658,944.00 |
| OMH | OM HOLDINGS | 12.3% | -69.1% | 0.42 | $ 336,073,632.00 |
| E25 | ELEMENT 25 | 12.2% | 21.1% | 0.27 | $ 21,138,674.00 |
| HNR | HANNANS | 11.1% | -16.7% | 0.01 | $ 19,879,546.00 |
| GME | GME RESOURCES | 11.1% | -36.0% | 0.06 | $ 30,374,576.00 |
| TLG | TALGA RESOURCES | 9.4% | 12.9% | 0.525 | $ 116,632,136.00 |
| PLL | PIEDMONT LITHIUM | 9.1% | -14.3% | 0.115 | $ 97,845,640.00 |
| VRC | VOLT RESOURCES | 8.3% | -27.8% | 0.012 | $ 20,870,294.00 |
| RNU | RENASCOR RESOURCES | 7.1% | -16.7% | 0.014 | $ 17,301,366.00 |
| CLA | CELSIUS RESOURCES | 6.7% | -85.5% | 0.015 | $ 12,115,489.00 |
| MZN | MARINDI METALS | 6.3% | -66.0% | 0.086 | $ 6,795,312.50 |
| MZZ | MATADOR MINING | 5.3% | -33.3% | 0.2 | $ 19,781,762.00 |
| MIN | MINERAL RESOURCES | 4.3% | -0.7% | 13.65 | $ 2,514,889,472.00 |
| CAZ | CAZALY RESOURCES | 4.3% | 81.5% | 0.046 | $ 16,959,550.00 |
| ARL | ARDEA RESOURCES | 4.2% | -9.9% | 0.5 | $ 56,145,928.00 |
| VML | VITAL METALS | 4.2% | 78.6% | 0.011 | $ 26,782,642.00 |
| POS | POSEIDON NICKEL | 4.1% | 13.3% | 0.051 | $ 134,777,792.00 |
| SYR | SYRAH RESOURCES | 3.9% | -70.8% | 0.39 | $ 163,282,880.00 |
| BSX | BLACKSTONE MINERALS | 3.8% | 22.7% | 0.14 | $ 25,883,748.00 |
| CRL | COMET RESOURCES | 3.8% | -15.6% | 0.027 | $ 7,492,500.00 |
| AJM | ALTURA MINING | 3.6% | -73.0% | 0.058 | $ 134,876,832.00 |
| MEI | METEORIC RESOURCES | 3.2% | 364.3% | 0.067 | $ 64,134,188.00 |
| HAV | HAVILAH RESOURCES | 3.1% | -45.9% | 0.11 | $ 27,282,918.00 |
| AGY | ARGOSY MINERALS | 2.9% | -64.0% | 0.0705 | $ 71,085,152.00 |
| VMC | VENUS METALS | 2.9% | -5.8% | 0.18 | $ 21,461,644.00 |
| GLN | GALAN LITHIUM | 2.7% | -38.7% | 0.195 | $ 26,684,610.00 |
| SRK | STRIKE RESOURCES | 2.5% | -25.5% | 0.041 | $ 6,852,505.00 |
| TNG | TNG | 2.5% | -20.5% | 0.082 | $ 93,337,248.00 |
| INF | INFINITY LITHIUM | 1.4% | 16.7% | 0.07 | $ 14,811,977.00 |
| CHN | CHALICE GOLD MINES | 1.4% | 67.8% | 0.19 | $ 50,017,436.00 |
| SO4 | SALT LAKE POTASH | 1.2% | 64.7% | 0.85 | $ 215,029,056.00 |
| KOR | KORAB RESOURCES | 0.0% | -37.9% | 0.018 | $ 5,709,590.50 |
| LPD | LEPIDICO | 0.0% | 20.2% | 0.018 | $ 83,574,696.00 |
| SVD | SCANDIVANADIUM | 0.0% | -64.5% | 0.009 | $ 3,166,795.00 |
| TON | TRITON MINERALS | 0.0% | -11.4% | 0.039 | $ 36,158,388.00 |
| GED | GOLDEN DEEPS | 0.0% | -44.7% | 0.026 | $ 7,220,822.50 |
| RIE | RIEDEL RESOURCES | 0.0% | -60.0% | 0.012 | $ 5,016,836.50 |
| 4CE | FORCE COMMODITIES | 0.0% | -25.0% | 0.018 | $ 9,137,786.00 |
| ZNC | ZENITH MINERALS | 0.0% | -24.1% | 0.074 | $ 13,426,226.00 |
| TAR | TARUGA MINERALS | 0.0% | -54.5% | 0.027 | $ 3,529,181.00 |
| SUH | SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE MINING | 0.0% | -64.5% | 0.022 | $ 1,946,328.38 |
| SI6 | SIX SIGMA METALS | 0.0% | -20.0% | 0.004 | $ 2,580,012.50 |
| THR | THOR MINING | 0.0% | -80.0% | 0.007 | $ 4,929,881.00 |
| SYA | SAYONA MINING | 0.0% | -61.5% | 0.009 | $ 18,497,974.00 |
| AMD | ARROW MINERALS | 0.0% | -50.0% | 0.008 | $ 6,701,705.50 |
| CLQ | CLEAN TEQ | 0.0% | -35.5% | 0.2475 | $ 182,882,752.00 |
| DTM | DART MINING | 0.0% | -14.3% | 0.006 | $ 6,422,257.00 |
| CZR | COZIRON RESOURCES | 0.0% | -42.9% | 0.008 | $ 16,664,410.00 |
| ASN | ANSON RESOURCES | 0.0% | -55.6% | 0.034 | $ 19,198,776.00 |
| PAN | PANORAMIC RESOURCES | 0.0% | -30.9% | 0.3175 | $ 209,355,424.00 |
| RLC | REEDY LAGOON | 0.0% | -62.5% | 0.003 | $ 1,206,815.13 |
| BDI | BLINA MINERALS | 0.0% | -33.3% | 0.001 | $ 5,454,882.50 |
| HIP | HIPO RESOURCES | 0.0% | 6.3% | 0.017 | $ 6,570,678.00 |
| ANW | AUS TIN MINING | 0.0% | -88.2% | 0.002 | $ 4,728,992.50 |
| MRR | MINREX RESOURCES | 0.0% | -60.0% | 0.01 | $ 958,777.25 |
| PUR | PURSUIT MINERALS | 0.0% | -77.8% | 0.01 | $ 3,302,197.75 |
| PSM | PENINSULA MINES | 0.0% | -66.7% | 0.002 | $ 2,033,744.13 |
| EUC | EUROPEAN COBALT | 0.0% | -26.7% | 0.033 | $ 25,136,012.00 |
| PM1 | PURE MINERALS | 0.0% | 21.4% | 0.017 | $ 8,010,544.00 |
| AZI | ALTA ZINC | 0.0% | 31.7% | 0.007 | $ 10,979,306.00 |
| FEL | FE | 0.0% | 6.7% | 0.015 | $ 7,819,226.00 |
| MLS | METALS AUSTRALIA | 0.0% | -42.9% | 0.002 | $ 5,914,395.50 |
| IEC | INTRA ENERGY | 0.0% | -57.1% | 0.006 | $ 2,326,344.25 |
| CFE | CAPE LAMBERT RESOURCES | 0.0% | -75.0% | 0.005 | $ 5,522,370.00 |
| BSM | BASS METALS | 0.0% | -59.1% | 0.008 | $ 25,288,872.00 |
| NWC | NEW WORLD COBALT | 0.0% | -45.0% | 0.021 | $ 19,210,124.00 |
| MTB | MOUNT BURGESS MINING | 0.0% | -20.0% | 0.004 | $ 2,080,517.63 |
| CZN | CORAZON MINING | 0.0% | -71.4% | 0.002 | $ 4,076,721.25 |
| IDA | INDIANA RESOURCES | 0.0% | -54.5% | 0.025 | $ 4,587,367.50 |
| RMX | RED MOUNTAIN MINING | 0.0% | -14.3% | 0.006 | $ 5,082,220.50 |
| CGM | COUGAR METALS | 0.0% | -66.7% | 0.001 | $ 1,176,583.25 |
| TKL | TRAKA RESOURCES | 0.0% | -68.6% | 0.011 | $ 4,405,092.50 |
| BAT | BATTERY MINERALS | 0.0% | -66.7% | 0.008 | $ 11,862,824.00 |
| GPP | GREENPOWER ENERGY | 0.0% | -75.0% | 0.01 | $ 2,302,245.25 |
| NZC | NZURI COPPER | -1.6% | 26.0% | 0.325 | $ 93,210,232.00 |
| JRL | JINDALEE RESOURCES | -1.7% | 9.5% | 0.29 | $ 11,163,333.00 |
| PLS | PILBARA MINERALS | -1.8% | -63.2% | 0.2975 | $ 622,637,184.00 |
| LTR | LIONTOWN RESOURCES | -2.0% | 311.6% | 0.099 | $ 165,569,552.00 |
| KTA | KRAKATOA RESOURCES | -2.1% | 56.7% | 0.05 | $ 7,755,000.00 |
| LIT | LITHIUM AUSTRALIA | -2.2% | -51.2% | 0.045 | $ 24,042,232.00 |
| JRV | JERVOIS MINING | -2.3% | 10.5% | 0.215 | $ 134,742,864.00 |
| AVZ | AVZ MINERALS | -2.4% | -42.3% | 0.045 | $ 94,470,088.00 |
| NMT | NEOMETALS | -2.4% | -2.8% | 0.2 | $ 108,887,640.00 |
| MLL | MALI LITHIUM | -2.4% | -63.4% | 0.079 | $ 25,387,848.00 |
| NVA | NOVA MINERALS | -2.5% | 95.0% | 0.04 | $ 36,349,332.00 |
| ORE | OROCOBRE | -2.5% | -34.2% | 2.43 | $ 604,476,352.00 |
| CXO | CORE LITHIUM | -2.6% | -22.4% | 0.037 | $ 30,030,054.00 |
| EMH | EUROPEAN METALS | -3.4% | -25.0% | 0.29 | $ 42,980,536.00 |
| AUZ | AUSTRALIAN MINES | -3.4% | -17.6% | 0.027 | $ 96,452,792.00 |
| PSC | PROSPECT RESOURCES | -3.4% | -46.2% | 0.135 | $ 33,033,246.00 |
| SEI | SPECIALITY METALS INTERNATIONAL | -3.5% | 299.0% | 0.055 | $ 54,050,128.00 |
| BPL | BROKEN HILL PROSPECTING | -3.6% | -34.1% | 0.025 | $ 3,992,851.75 |
| BYH | BRYAH RESOURCES | -3.6% | -45.5% | 0.055 | $ 5,244,687.50 |
| EUR | EUROPEAN LITHIUM | -3.6% | -27.3% | 0.092 | $ 48,193,680.00 |
| COB | COBALT BLUE | -3.7% | -36.0% | 0.14 | $ 19,487,328.00 |
| HRZ | HORIZON MINERALS | -3.8% | -16.7% | 0.125 | $ 53,496,900.00 |
| BEM | BLACKEARTH MINERALS | -4.0% | -58.3% | 0.048 | $ 5,455,465.00 |
| AML | AEON METALS | -4.2% | -58.2% | 0.11 | $ 77,518,016.00 |
| JMS | JUPITER MINES | -4.3% | 11.6% | 0.3125 | $ 646,467,072.00 |
| SVM | SOVEREIGN METALS | -4.5% | 3.7% | 0.085 | $ 30,538,262.00 |
| GBE | GLOBE METALS AND MINING | -4.8% | 42.9% | 0.02 | $ 9,318,447.00 |
| BAR | BARRA RESOURCES | -4.8% | -48.7% | 0.02 | $ 10,777,815.00 |
| PGM | PLATINA RESOURCES | -5.0% | -68.3% | 0.019 | $ 6,149,349.50 |
| BUX | BUXTON RESOURCES | -5.1% | -51.6% | 0.074 | $ 10,204,157.00 |
| BKT | BLACK ROCK MINING | -5.1% | 75.0% | 0.056 | $ 34,862,848.00 |
| LKE | LAKE RESOURCES | -5.4% | -53.3% | 0.035 | $ 18,421,010.00 |
| NXE | NEW ENERGY MINERALS | -5.6% | -78.2% | 0.018 | $ 2,599,222.50 |
| MTC | METALSTECH | -5.6% | -71.2% | 0.017 | $ 1,988,216.13 |
| FGR | FIRST GRAPHENE | -5.6% | 21.4% | 0.165 | $ 80,702,416.00 |
| WML | WOOMERA MINING | -5.9% | -78.2% | 0.016 | $ 2,148,671.50 |
| VR8 | VANADIUM RESOURCES | -6.4% | -60.0% | 0.044 | $ 15,493,607.00 |
| PIO | PIONEER RESOURCES | -6.7% | -17.6% | 0.014 | $ 21,122,622.00 |
| TMT | TECHNOLOGY METALS AUSTRALIA | -6.7% | -73.1% | 0.1375 | $ 12,257,583.00 |
| CHK | COHIBA MINERALS | -7.1% | 116.7% | 0.012 | $ 8,639,985.00 |
| LPI | LITHIUM POWER INTERNATIONAL | -7.1% | 0.0% | 0.285 | $ 68,253,616.00 |
| AXE | ARCHER EXPLORATION | -7.4% | 98.4% | 0.125 | $ 24,636,472.00 |
| CUL | CULLEN RESOURCES | -7.7% | -42.2% | 0.012 | $ 2,273,578.00 |
| GXY | GALAXY RESOURCES | -8.2% | -61.9% | 0.8525 | $ 341,915,232.00 |
| BOA | BOADICEA RESOURCES | -9.1% | 138.1% | 0.2 | $ 11,119,149.00 |
| KSN | KINGSTON RESOURCES | -9.1% | -4.0% | 0.02 | $ 35,318,412.00 |
| GPX | GRAPHEX MINING | -9.8% | -31.5% | 0.185 | $ 18,619,364.00 |
| CNJ | CONICO | -10.0% | -61.7% | 0.009 | $ 3,459,584.00 |
| DGR | DGR GLOBAL | -10.1% | -31.5% | 0.095 | $ 54,573,188.00 |
| MNS | MAGNIS ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES | -12.5% | -52.5% | 0.155 | $ 86,218,240.00 |
| DHR | DARK HORSE RESOURCES | -14.3% | -40.0% | 0.003 | $ 6,883,333.00 |
| AEE | AURA ENERGY | -14.3% | -66.7% | 0.006 | $ 7,805,429.00 |
| MTH | MITHRIL RESOURCES | -14.3% | -7.3% | 0.006 | $ 2,942,335.25 |
| KAI | KAIROS MINERALS | -15.4% | -63.3% | 0.012 | $ 9,375,001.00 |
| POW | PROTEAN ENERGY | -16.7% | -78.3% | 0.005 | $ 1,557,186.25 |
| MCT | METALICITY | -16.7% | -68.8% | 0.006 | $ 3,616,049.75 |
| PNN | PEPINNINI LITHIUM | -16.7% | -56.3% | 0.0025 | $ 3,142,818.50 |
| ARE | ARGONAUT RESOURCES | -16.7% | -75.0% | 0.005 | $ 7,771,903.00 |
| HWK | HAWKSTONE MINING | -16.7% | -60.0% | 0.01 | $ 8,153,180.00 |
| LML | LINCOLN MINERALS | -16.7% | -37.5% | 0.005 | $ 2,874,918.50 |
| N27 | NORTHERN COBALT | -17.5% | -31.4% | 0.066 | $ 5,010,144.00 |
| AYR | ALLOY RESOURCES | -20.0% | -50.0% | 0.002 | $ 3,916,555.25 |
| LI3 | LITHIUM CONSOLIDATED | -20.0% | -46.1% | 0.032 | $ 3,969,798.00 |
| SBR | SABRE RESOURCES | -25.0% | -70.0% | 0.003 | $ 1,426,151.00 |
