Today, SMM's spot battery-grade lithium carbonate price fluctuated downward from the previous working day, while the most-traded futures contract also moved lower. After the opening, the price once climbed above 170,000 yuan/mt, then fluctuated downward all the way and finally closed at 157,000 yuan/mt.

This week coincided with the Chinese New Year holiday, with most rare earth producers temporarily suspending external shipments and maintaining pre-holiday price levels. On the trading side, overseas inquiries increased in frequency, while domestic enterprises selectively took orders. Some companies, facing a shortage of spot resources, halted external shipments. In news, the opening of India's artificial intelligence summit became the hottest topic this week, with multiple countries announcing plans to strengthen rare earth mining to secure local supply chains.

Affected by the news that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) solicited public opinions on February 19 regarding the "Interim Measures for the Total Volume Control and Management of Rare Earth Mining and Rare Earth Smelting and Separation (Draft for Public Comments)" and other related documents, the spot price of rare earths saw a significant increase on February 20. In the stock market, the rare earth permanent magnets concept sector experienced a notable surge at the opening. As of the close on February 20, the rare earth permanent magnets concept rose by 1.34%. Among individual stocks, Chuangxing Resources hit the daily limit, Zhenghai Magnetic Material rose by 6.1%, Guangsheng Nonferrous Metals increased by 5.59%, while Hanghua Co., Yujing Co., China Rare Earth, Baogang Group, and Ningbo Yunsheng were among the top gainers.

Nickel, as an important industrial metal, its price is affected by a variety of factors, showing a complex and changing trend. From the market demand for nickel compounds, to the development of the stainless steel industry, to the macroeconomic and geopolitical fluctuations, these factors work together to make nickel prices show a constantly changing trend. In today's integrated global economy, the fluctuation of nickel prices not only concerns the healthy development of related industries, but also affects the stability and prosperity of the global economy. Therefore, we need to pay close attention to the nickel market dynamics, and master the internal logic and law of its price changes, to better cope with the risks and grasp the opportunities. As a professional metal information platform, SMM is committed to providing comprehensive, accurate and timely nickel market data and analysis to help enterprises and investors better understand market dynamics and make informed decisions. We believe that through continuous research and exploration, we can better grasp the future development trend of the nickel market and contribute to the sustainable development of the industry.