** Shares of American Rare Earths rise 13.7% to A$0.29, set for best day since Aug 12 if current gains hold

** Anson Resources gains as much as 5.2% to A$0.081

** The companies say the United States has backed their projects with up to $786 mln in debt funding

** American Rare Earths says it received letter of interest for a debt funding package of up to $456 mln to support construction at its Halleck Creek Project

** Anson Resources says it got $330 mln to finance the construction of lithium production plant in Utah

** ASN stock down 44.2% YTD, while ARR up ~82% so far this year

(Reporting by Ayushman Ojha in Bengaluru)

((Ayushman.ojha@thomsonreuters.com;))