With only a few hours of trade left before Friday's closing bell sounds, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 1.2% for the week, but don't blame these four surging ASX 200 stocks.
The outperforming companies in question have gained 11% to 17% over the week.
And it won't take you long to realise they all have something in common.
Spoiler alert!
All four top performers on my list for the week are ASX gold stocks.
So, which Aussie gold miners are leading the charge higher?
Read on!
ASX 200 stocks shining bright
The first ASX 200 stock racing ahead of the benchmark this week is Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU).
Perseus Mining shares closed last Friday trading for $3.78. At the time of writing today, shares are changing hands for $4.18 apiece. That puts the Perseus share price up 10.6% for the week.
There was no price-sensitive information from Perseus over the week.
But as with the other top performers, Perseus is clearly benefiting from the strong run higher in the gold price this week.
The yellow metal is currently trading for US$3,552 per ounce. That sees the gold price up 3.0% since last Friday, when that same ounce was worth US$3,448. With another strong week of gains, the gold price is now up an eye-popping 42.3% since this time last year.
Which brings us to the second top-performing ASX 200 stock this week, Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU), formerly Red 5 Limited.
Shares in the Aussie gold miner closed last week trading for 54 cents. In afternoon trade today, shares are changing hands for 60 cents each. That sees the Vault Minerals share price up 11.1% for the week.
As with Perseus, there was no fresh news from Vault over the week, with the stock benefiting from the record-setting gold price.
The same is true for the third-outperforming ASX 200 stock, Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL).
Regis Resources shares closed last Friday trading for $4.54, and are currently changing hands for $5.05 apiece. That puts the Regis Resources share price up 11.2% in this week's slumping market.
Leading the pack
Rounding off the list of top-performing ASX 200 stocks this week, we have gold miner Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD).
Genesis Minerals shares closed last week at $4.51. At the time of writing, shares are trading for $5.27 each. That sees the Genesis Minerals share price up 16.9% for the week.
Unlike the other three ASX gold stocks above, Genesis kicked off the week by reporting on strong drilling results at its Laverton and Leonora projects, located in Western Australia.
Genesis Minerals managing director Raleigh Finlayson said the "outstanding drilling results … illustrate the immense scope to grow the inventories at both Laverton and Leonora".
The ASX 200 stock closed up 11.5% on Monday following the release.
