** Shares of Australian Strategic Materials ASM.AX rise as
much as 38.7% to A$1.65, posting a record intraday gain
** Stock hits its highest level since Nov. 23, 2023
** Rare earths explorer says it received $600 million in
preliminary funding for its Dubbo Project from Export-Import
Bank of the United States
** Nearly 1.3 mln shares change hands, compared with the
30-day average volume of 254,786 shares
** Stock down 6.3% YTD as of last close
(Reporting by Aaditya Govind Rao in Bengaluru)
((Aaditya.govindrao@thomsonreuters.com;))