ASX 200 lithium shares lead the market higher on Friday

Some of the market's favourite battery materials stocks have gained more than 13% this week.

Brooke Cooper

Brooke has been a Motley Fool contributor since early 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Communication with specialisations in journalism and international studies from Charles Sturt University. Brooke aims to inform and excite Aussies keen to grow their wealth by investing in ASX companies. When not writing or researching, you'll likely find Brooke gallivanting around South East Queensland.

Published January 6, 2023 12:04 pm AEDT

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) appears set to end the first week of 2023 in the green, with ASX lithium shares helping it get there.

Stocks in the battery-making material are outperforming all others on the index today while their home sector – the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) – leads the way.

Right now, the ASX 200 is up 0.35% at 7,088.5 points. Meanwhile, the materials sector has gained 2.21%.

And taking out the top spot among the ASX 200's gainers right now is none other than lithium favourite Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO). Its share price has gained 5.14% to trade at $1.17 at the time of writing.

Let's take a closer look at how Core Lithium and its peers are performing on Friday.

Woman jumping for joy at great news with wide open country around her. — Image source: Getty Images

ASX 200 lithium shares lead the index on Friday

ASX 200 lithium shares are outperforming once more today, with many on track to end the week in the market's top spots. Here's how some favourites are trading:

The Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price is up 4.3% right now, trading at $3.88 apiece
Shares in Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN) have risen 3.38% to reach $80.76
The IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) share price has climbed 3.1% to swap hands for $13.85
Lake Resources NL (ASX: LKE) stock is up 3.87% at 81 cents

And that's just today's gains. The Core Lithium share price has jumped more than 13% over the last week, as has that of Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA).

What else has been going on with ASX lithium giants this week?

Interestingly, there hasn't been all that much news from ASX 200 lithium shares this week.

Though, Core Lithium did announce the maiden shipment of lithium from its Finniss Project yesterday.

Additionally, Mineral Resources hit the headlines on the back of what seems to be an error in a release detailing its off-market takeover bid for Norwest Energy NL (ASX: NWE).

An accompanying bidder's statement listed Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX)'s ABN in place of Norwest's, perhaps suggesting the latter energy stock could also be a takeover target.

Mineral Resources was also rumoured to have been behind large trade in Warrego Energy Ltd (ASX: WGO) stock. That's particularly interesting due to the takeover battle currently at play between Gina Rinehart and Strike.

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