** Shares of Australia's Nordic Resources NNL.AX rise as much as 25.4% to A$0.074, its biggest intraday pct gain since February 17
** Stock at its highest level since April 15
** Mineral explorer to raise A$3.5 million ($2.28 million) through placement at an issue price of A$0.06 per share
** Issue price represents a premium of 1.7% to stock's last close
** Funds from placement to help co expand its drill program at Kopsa project
** Near 858,701 shares change hands, nearly 4x the 30-day average volume
** Stock has fallen 29.8% this year, as of 0502 GMT
($1 = 1.5337 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Roshan Thomas in Bengaluru)
((Roshan.Thomas@thomsonreuters.com))