Emanuel Datt

The Australian small-cap sector is currently trading at a whopping 30 per cent discount, according to new research from Datt Capital, with history suggesting strong returns are likely to follow as active managers continue to show their skill in this buzzing space.

For the world to meet climate targets, the supply of battery-grade lithium will have to ramp up greatly, prompting expectations that the price will keep rising for years to come. And Australian companies with proven lithium deposits could do well as M&A in the sector stays hot, analysts say.

Three of the top four performing companies in the S&P/ASX 100 over the past year operate thermal coal mines, which points to remarkable structural imbalance in the market.

Emanuel Datt, chief investment officer and founder of Datt Capital, presents his views on Latitude’s bid for Hum Consumer Finance.