** Shares of Astron ATR.AX rise 5.7% to A$0.74, their highest level since October 14
** The critical minerals miner receives a letter of support from Export Finance Australia for funding of up to A$80 million ($51.98 million) for its Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project
** About 465,764 shares change hands, 2.4x the 30-day average of 197,627
** Astron stock up 148.7%, YTD
($1 = 1.5389 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Jasmeen Ara Shaikh in Bengaluru)
((Jasmeenaraislam.shaikh@thomsonreuters.com
))