HONG KONG -- China's cobalt mining stocks are soaring as companies like Apple, BMW and Volkswagen rush to secure supplies of the metal used in lithium-ion batteries for smartphones and electric cars.
Shares of Chinese cobalt miner Jinchuan Group International Resources have soared over 70% in Hong Kong since the start of this year, while Shanghai-listed Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt climbed nearly 50% and Shenzhen-listed Nanjing Hanrui Cobalt gained over 20%.