STOCK WATCH

SPECIALIST battery company Ilika sparked investor interest as it announced it has begun shipping pre-launch samples of its tiny batteries.

The products, which are only millimetres in size, are designed for use in miniature medical implants.

Ilika has sent shipments to equipment manufacturers in the US and Asia, who will test the batteries. They should be ready for a full product launch in early 2019, Ilika said.

Shares in the business surged by 11.8pc, or 2p, to 19p.