Yesterday, the cobalt chloride and cobalt sulfate markets overall presented a pattern of a sharp rally in the metal segment and divergent but stable performance in the salt segment. Electrolytic cobalt jumped sharply that day, driven by capital flows and rumors of supply disruptions, but cobalt chloride and cobalt sulfate did not follow the upward move in tandem. Quotations in the salt segment showed notable divergence due to differences in statistical methodologies and transaction structures, while downward pressure on prices from actual demand remained significant. Electrolytic cobalt rose by more than 10% in a single day, mainly driven jointly by rumors of supply disruptions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), capital sentiment, and restocking demand after earlier overselling. However, fundamentals did not improve in tandem. The salt segment stayed put for two main reasons.