** Shares of Australia's American West Metals AW1.AX rise
as much as 7.1% to A$0.105, their biggest intraday pct gain
since Sept 10
** The minerals explorer signs a formal agreement for A$18.8
mln ($12.81 mln) royalty funding for Storm Copper Project,
located in Canada
** Royalty funding allows us to start accessing non-dilutive
funding for Storm Copper Project - AW1
** Stock down 27.6% this year, as of 0056 GMT
($1 = 1.4680 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Roshan Thomas in Bengaluru)
((Roshan.Thomas@thomsonreuters.com))