GREENWICH, Conn., Feb. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gabelli Funds will host its 17th Annual Specialty Chemicals Symposium in Midtown Manhattan, New York City on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The event will feature discussions with leading companies and organizations across the specialty chemicals ecosystem, with an emphasis on industry dynamics, current trends, and business fundamentals, as well as Specialty Chemicals investing. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in one-on-one meetings with ...

Core Viewpoint - Lithium prices remain significantly below the historical highs reached in 2023, but have been rising in recent months due to supply disruptions in China and strong demand, with further increases expected [1] Price Trends - Lithium spodumene and lithium hydroxide prices have increased by approximately 35% year-to-date, with spodumene prices more than doubling since late June and lithium hydroxide prices increasing by over 100% [1] Supply Chain Issues - China's lithium supply continues to be adversely affected by environmental inspections and permit suspensions, contributing to the price increases [1] - The demand for lithium is bolstered by cathode material producers replenishing inventory ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday [1] Demand Outlook - The demand outlook for lithium remains optimistic, with energy storage systems performing better than expected [1] Related Stocks - Relevant U.S. stocks in the lithium sector include Albemarle (ALB.US), Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM.US), Lithium Americas (LAC.US), Lithium Argentina (LAR.US), Sigma Lithium (SGML.US), and Standard Lithium (SLI.US) [1]

Group 1: Federal Reserve Actions and Economic Outlook - The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate steady at 3.50% to 3.75%, marking a pause after three consecutive cuts [1] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated that the Fed is "well positioned" to wait and see how the economy evolves, describing the current policy stance as "loosely neutral" or "somewhat restrictive" [3][4] - The economy is reportedly "coming into 2026 on a firm footing," with growth stronger than expected, although inflation remains "somewhat elevated" [4] Group 2: Consumer Confidence and Economic Disparities - Consumer confidence has plummeted to its lowest level in 12 years, with a recent reading of 84.5, reflecting concerns about high prices and sluggish job growth [10][9] - Despite the decline in consumer confidence, the AI boom has significantly increased the wealth of tech billionaires, adding over $500 billion in 2025 alone [12] - The average 401(k) balance reached a record $144,400, up 9.1% from the previous year, while the number of 401(k) millionaires surged to 654,000, indicating a divide between those benefiting from the stock market and those who are not [13] Group 3: AI Infrastructure and Economic Growth - Real GDP expanded at 4.4% in Q3 2025, with the Atlanta Fed's GDPNow model estimating Q4 growth at 5.4%, driven largely by AI infrastructure spending [14] - AI-related capital spending contributed 1.1% to GDP growth in the first half of 2025, surpassing household spending as a growth driver [15] - Tech companies invested $437 billion in AI capital expenditures in 2025, a 61% increase from 2024, highlighting the significant role of AI in economic expansion [15] Group 4: Investment Opportunities in Raw Materials - There is a projected 10-million-ton copper deficit over the next decade, driven by increased demand for AI infrastructure and constrained supply [18] - The U.S. government has taken equity stakes in several strategic companies, which has positively impacted their stock prices [19] - The demand for copper is expected to remain strong due to AI infrastructure, grid upgrades, and electrification, while supply is limited due to years of underinvestment [24]

Core Insights - Standard Lithium Ltd. (NYSE:SLI) is recognized as one of the top lithium and battery stocks to invest in currently [1] Group 1: Project Financing and Interest - Smackover Lithium, a joint venture between Standard Lithium Ltd. and Equinor, has received interest for over $1 billion in project financing from three significant Export Credit Agencies [2] - Phase 1 of the South West Arkansas Project will be financed through more than $1 billion in senior secured project debt from the U.S. Export-Import Bank and Export Finance Norway [2] Group 2: Recent Achievements and Developments - The latest quarterly results for Standard Lithium Ltd. highlighted the achievement of important milestones, including the release of a Maiden Inferred Resource for the Franklin Project in East Texas, noted for its high lithium-in-brine grades [3] - A Definitive Feasibility Study for the SWA Project confirmed its cost-competitiveness, and a capital raise was completed to advance the Franklin and other East Texas projects, as well as the final investment decision at SWA [3] Group 3: Future Expectations - Standard Lithium Ltd. anticipates finalizing project funding, securing customer offtake agreements, selecting key vendors for SWA, and approving the final investment decision to commence construction in 2026 [4] - As of January 21, 2026, the stock has increased by 3.35% year-to-date [4]

Industry Overview - Energy storage technologies are expected to significantly increase lithium demand, surpassing electric vehicle demand by 2026 as utility-scale batteries become a major consumer [2] - Lithium prices have recovered 50% from June lows but remain less than one-sixth of late-2022 levels [2] - UBS projects a 55% increase in lithium demand from storage in 2026, compared to a 19% rise from electric vehicles [3] Company Insights - **Standard Lithium Ltd. (NYSE:SLI)**: - Number of hedge fund holders: 8 - Analysts' upside potential as of January 21: 2.90% - The company is involved in a joint venture for the Smackover Lithium project, with over $1 billion in financing secured [9][10] - Anticipates finalizing project funding and commencing construction in 2026 [11] - **Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ:SGML)**: - Number of hedge fund holders: 15 - Analysts' upside potential as of January 21: 24.22% - Recent operational updates have been deemed insignificant by analysts, with a potential equity raising on the horizon [13] - Net revenue increased by 69% quarter over quarter and 36% year over year, attributed to commercial partnerships [14]

Industry Overview - Lithium demand is rapidly increasing due to the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage solutions, with forecasts indicating that lithium demand could more than double by the end of the decade [1] - The market is expected to transition from surplus to deficit starting in 2026, driven by production slowdowns and project delays among higher-cost producers [2] - The global lithium market is projected to expand from $13.9 billion in 2024 to $55.5 billion by 2032, indicating strong demand driven by electric vehicles and renewable energy [14] Company Developments - US Critical Metals Corp. (USCM) has made significant progress in 2025, including securing a clear path to 100% ownership of the McDermitt East Lithium Project and completing the acquisition of the Clayton Ridge Lithium Project [9][10] - USCM plans to enhance its exploration strategy at McDermitt East in 2026, focusing on geological mapping and surface sampling to refine drill targets [11][12] - The company closed a $510,000 private placement financing to support its U.S. critical minerals portfolio [9] Market Sentiment - Analysts expect improved sentiment around lithium pricing as supply struggles to keep pace with accelerating battery demand, leading to stronger margins for well-positioned lithium producers [2][3] - USCM's CEO highlighted the strategic importance of U.S.-based lithium assets and the company's alignment with market conditions as it enters 2026 [13]

Market Performance - The S&P 500 reached a new intraday high but slipped 0.03% to 6,929.94, while the Nasdaq Composite eased 0.09% to 23,593.10, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 0.04% to 48,710.96 in thin post-Christmas trading [1] - The S&P 500 is up 2.3% for the week, leading to discussions about a potential end-of-year rally or a consolidation phase [3] Company News - Nvidia's stock increased by 1.02% following its announcement of a $20 billion asset acquisition from AI startup Groq, highlighting continued investor interest in AI-driven companies [2][4] - Other materials companies like Freeport-McMoRan and Southern Copper saw gains, contrasting with a nearly 6% loss from Standard Lithium, indicating significant market divergences related to the precious metals rally [2] Commodity Trends - Gold prices reached nearly $4,550 per ounce, while silver surpassed $77 per ounce, driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions and increased investor interest in these safe-haven assets [4]

Core Viewpoint - Fitch predicts that despite lithium prices rebounding to over $11,500 per ton in late November (a 38% increase for the second half of 2025), a weak price trend will persist until 2026 due to multiple complex factors affecting production in a fragmented and maturing market [1] Supply and Demand Dynamics - Fitch expects the lithium market to remain oversupplied in 2026 unless there are significant and sustained capacity reductions. Wood Mackenzie forecasts that the surplus of battery-grade lithium chemicals will expand to 153,000 tons (in lithium carbonate equivalent) by 2026 and further to 207,000 tons in 2027 [2] - The short-term supply-demand balance is contingent on supply reductions, influenced by lagging electric vehicle demand and ongoing policy uncertainties [2] Stock Performance - Year-to-date, lithium-related stocks have shown mixed performance. Canadian lithium developer Standard Lithium (SLI.US) has seen its stock price increase by nearly 250%, while larger producers like Lithium Americas (LAC.US) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM.US) have also achieved significant gains. In contrast, industry giants like Albemarle (ALB.US) have underperformed amid weak lithium prices and increased sector volatility [2] - The Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF has risen 56% year-to-date, partly driven by tariff and trade war-related news [2] Supply Chain Dynamics - The rapidly changing battery technology market, including alternative materials to lithium, may erode expected stable demand. China remains the largest end market (accounting for 64% of total demand) and a dominant processing center, with new market entrants forming strategic partnerships with governments to secure key mineral resources [4] Capital Allocation Discipline - Lithium producers tracked by Fitch are prioritizing balance sheet resilience and rating buffer space before 2026. Albemarle (rated BBB- with a stable outlook) has issued convertible bonds to repay through stock issuance during market upcycles. Sociedad Química y Minera (rated AA(cl)) is responding to pressures by slowing growth capital expenditures and limiting free cash flow consumption [4] - Mineral Resources (MALRF.US) (rated BB- with a stable outlook) has sold a 15% stake in its lithium assets to raise cash for early debt repayment while cutting capital expenditures [4] M&A Opportunities - The challenging industry environment continues to create opportunities for capital-strong large mining companies seeking to diversify their businesses or secure key mineral resources. For instance, Rio Tinto (RIO.US) has been active in lithium project opportunities and is nearing entry into the top five global lithium producers, narrowing the gap with Albemarle and Sociedad Química y Minera [5]

Core Viewpoint - Standard Lithium's shares increased over 6% in early trading due to developments in China regarding lithium mining permits [1]. Group 1: Market Reaction - The Bureau of Natural Resources in Yichun, Jiangxi Province, plans to cancel 27 lithium mining permits, leading to a sharp increase in lithium prices in China by approximately 7.6% [3]. - The cancellation of these permits has spurred significant price spikes among global lithium miners, although analysts believe the impact on supply will be minimal since the revoked permits were for non-operational mines [3][6]. Group 2: Company Performance - Standard Lithium currently does not produce lithium and has no revenue or profit expected before 2028, with annual losses around $187 million [5]. - Despite the positive market reaction, the theoretical importance of the permit cancellations to Standard Lithium is limited until the company begins actual production [5]. Group 3: Investment Considerations - Analysts from The Motley Fool Stock Advisor have identified 10 stocks they believe are better investment opportunities than Standard Lithium, indicating caution for potential investors [5].

Group 1 - U.S. stocks experienced a decline, with the Nasdaq Composite dropping over 100 points on Monday [1] - Kyverna Therapeutics Inc shares surged 31% to $11.49 following the announcement of topline data from the KYSA-8 Phase 2 trial [2][3] - The KYSA-8 trial involved mivocabtagene autoleucel (miv-cel), a CAR T-cell therapy targeting stiff person syndrome [1] Group 2 - Other notable stock gains included Beneficient, which increased by 29.3% to $6.21, and Immunome Inc, which rose 25.5% to $24.56 after positive results from its Phase 3 trial [3] - Falcon's Beyond Global Inc gained 14% to $12.83, while XBP Global Holdings Inc surged 11.5% to $6.39 [3] - Almonty Industries Inc announced a voluntary withdrawal of its base shelf prospectus, leading to a 9.1% increase in its stock price to $7.38 [3]