The Orocobre Ltd (ASX: ORE) and Galaxy Resources Ltd (ASX: GXY) share prices are pacing the S&P/ ASX200 (ASX: XJO) higher today to be up 9.3% and 4.2% respectively in early afternoon trade.
The lithium miners have not released any specific news to the market since before Christmas, but are probably climbing today on investor expectations that lithium prices could rise in 2019.
The lithium price outlook sharply divides the bulls and bears as both global supply and demand are hard to get an accurate forecast on due to the complex nature of operators on both side of the equation.
Adding to the opaqueness is the fact that neither lithium spot or futures prices are openly traded on an exchange or similar public price-fixing mechanism such as gold, oil, copper, or silver prices for example.
In fact investors are reliant on the prices reported by the miners like Orocobre themselves to get a gauge on where prices sit.
In the absence of any other news it's likely that the lithium miners are heading higher today on some strong prices being privately reported by miners or industry players.
Around 60% of total lithium produced globally comes from the "lithium triangle" in the region where Chile, Argentina and Bolivia meet and prices achieved in this area generally drive expectations for futures prices.
