(Reuters) -Shares of Australian rare earths miners, including Lynas and Iluka Resources, soared on Friday after U.S.-based MP Materials' a multibillion-dollar deal with the U.S. government to boost production of rare earth magnets.

The Pentagon has signed a multi-billion dollar deal with MP Materials and investors are betting this will be a shot in the arm for local rare earth element producers and aspirants.

Lynas Rare Earths (OTCPK:LYSDY) (OTCPK:LYSCF), the largest rare earths producer outside China, soared as much as 20% to its highest level since mid-August 2022, on track for its best trading day since April 2020 after MP Materials' (MP) deal with the U.