A positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolytic solution secondary batteries is substantially made of a Li containing transition metal composite oxide, which has a composition expressed by Li.sub.x M.sub.y S.sub.z O.sub.2 (wherein M is a transition metal, such as Co, Ni, Mn, Fe and V, and 0.9.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.15, 0.8.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1.00, and 0