China Aviation Lithium Battery (CALB) and Tianqi Lithium, two key players in the world’s biggest electric vehicle (EV) battery market, have applied to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange with the aim of raising at least US$1 billion each. The firms are keen on expanding capacity amid a bottle neck in the global supply of lithium. Jiangsu-based CALB and Sichuan-based Tianqi filed their applications to the city’s bourse in the first quarter and are waiting for an approval from the exchange’s listing committee. The successful launch of their deals will be a shot in the arm for the exchange,...