Chinese Lithium Finally Ticks Up After Five-Month Slide

(Bloomberg) — Lithium prices in China halted a five-month slide on signs that demand growth among battery makers may finally gather pace.

Chinese lithium carbonate ticked up 1.2% Wednesday, the first gain this year. Prices had tumbled more than 70% since mid-November as companies across the battery supply chain drew down inventories rather than buying afresh while an end to Chinese electric-vehicle subsidies curtailed demand.