Market News Today — AI-Curated Stock & Crypto Headlines

Albemarle's stock price surged 9.9% to $160.56 per share, driven by Jefferies analyst Laurence Alexander's upgraded price target to $167 and reiteration of a Buy rating.

Charlotte's stock market performance topped in 2025, driven by strong performances in lithium and steel, outpacing AI-related stocks.

China has granted conditional approval for a lithium partnership between SQM and Codelco in Chile, clearing the path for increased production.

Stardust Power Inc.

Marubeni CEO Masayuki Omoto is optimistic about the lithium sector, seeking new opportunities as the company expands its business in AI and energy transition.

Iron-air batteries, a new alternative to lithium-ion batteries, are set to be tested in real-world applications, promising long-term energy storage and potentially disrupting the energy storage sector.

The S&P 500 has reached a new record high due to strong corporate earnings and encouraging inflation data, with investors buying a diverse range of companies beyond tech giants.

Lithium prices surged globally after China signaled a sharper demand rebound in 2026, driven by increased battery-grade consumption expectations.

Researchers in Hong Kong and China have developed a new, eco-friendly battery that runs on tofu brine, potentially replacing lithium ion batteries and impacting the energy and tech sectors.

The energy transition is shifting focus from lithium to ultra-high-purity (UHP) graphite, a crucial component in electric vehicle batteries and nuclear power applications, with the market projected to reach $1.43 billion.

Lithium prices in China experienced a significant increase following a positive outlook from the CEO of Ganfeng, a leading producer in the industry.

SQM's earnings beat and increased lithium sales forecast indicate strong demand from battery storage systems, likely to support lithium prices and benefit related stocks.