** VHM VHM.AX rises as much as 6.1% to A$0.26, highest since September 25
** Stock set to gain for third straight session
** Mineral sands and rare earth co gets up to $200 mln as part of letter of interest (LOI) from Export-Import Bank (EXIM) of U.S.
** LOI to help develop co's Goschen rare earths, mineral sands project in Victoria, Australia
** Nearly 971,089 shares traded, 3.2x the 30-day avg
** YTD, VHM falls 38.2%
(Reporting by Roshan Thomas in Bengaluru)
((Roshan.Thomas@thomsonreuters.com;))