Australia's Neometals rises on MoU deal with Rio Tinto unit
** Shares of Neometals NMT.AX rise as much as 8.7% to A$0.075, their highest levels since June 17 ** The battery materials producer says it has signed a memorandum of understanding with a unit of iron ore miner Rio Tinto RIO.AX ** Says MOU was to collaborate to explore an energy transition technology ** Stock down 8% this year, including the day's move (Reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee in Bengaluru) ((Rajasik.Mukherjee@thomsonreuters.com))