** 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))