The AFR last week:“...But Ethical Partners’ fund manager Nathan...

The AFR last week:

“...But Ethical Partners’ fund manager Nathan Parkin said demand for electric vehicles was “quite healthy” and the “noise” about it weakening was coming from the US, when the vast majority of EVs were produced and sold in China, followed by Europe.

Mr Parkin said the same Wall Street banks were also servicing the hedge fund community which in Australia, at least, are aggressively betting against the sector.

Lithium producers are still among the most shorted stocks on the ASX. Pilbara Minerals, for example, still has more than 20 per cent of its shares held by short sellers.

“I’m being a bit cynical but part of the reason as to why they are bearish … is the fact that 20 per cent of Pilbara is short and the [banks] run massive trading business, which may feed into the view around where they stand on commodities,” said Mr Parkin.

“Our view is that the market is in deficit now.”