STOCK WATCH

SHARES in Proton Power Systems buzzed yesterday after it signed a provisional agreement with Skoda Electric.

Under the deal, AIM-listed Proton will provide the fuel cells that use hydrogen to generate electricity, which will power the electric buses being made by Skoda.

The vehicle maker aims to deliver the first prototype buses to European firms by early 2020. Shares in Proton rose by as much as 11pc in early trading, before closing up 6.3pc, or 0.5p, at 8.5p.