As we approach the final hours of trade on Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) looks all but certain to close the week in the red. But don't blame these three soaring ASX 200 stocks.
In afternoon trade today, the ASX 200 is down 1.4% at 7,979.8 points. That sees the benchmark Aussie index down 2.3% since last Friday's close.
But as the old investor adage goes, it's not a stock market, it's a market of stocks.
Indeed, while the broader stock market is down this week, some shares managed to soar more than 11%.
Here are some of the week's top performers.
Image source: Getty Images
ASX 200 stocks leaping higher in a falling market
The first outperforming ASX 200 stock on my list is Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC).
Shares in the rare earths miner closed last Friday trading for $6.79. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $7.26 apiece. This sees the Lynas share price up 6.9% over the week.
The last price-sensitive news from Lynas was its half-year results, released last week.
Although net profits of $5.9 million were down 85% year on year due to low rare earths market prices, Lynas achieved an 8.3% increase in revenue for the six months to $254.3 million. That was spurred by a 23% increase in neodymium and praesodymium (NdPr) sales volumes.
Moving on to the second ASX 200 stock shooting the lights out in this week's sinking market, we have Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS).
Shares in the pathology and imaging provider closed last Friday at $1.29. At the time of writing, they are trading for $1.43 apiece, up 10.9%.
There was also no fresh news out from Healius this week, with the healthcare stock having reported its half-year results on 20 February.
Highlights included a 10.0% year on year increase in revenue to $933.9 million, while underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 3.3% to $164.4 million.
At the head of the pack
Which brings us to the top-performing ASX 200 stock on my list for the week, Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX: IFL).
Shares in the financial services company closed out last week trading for $4.25. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $4.74 each. This sees the Insignia Financial share price up 11.5%.
A lot of those gains are rolling in today after the company announced this morning that it had received improved takeover offers from suitors Bain Capital Private Equity and CC Capital Partners.
Both Bain Capital and CC Capital increased their proposed takeover offers to $5.00 cash per share.
