As Friday's market close approaches, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is poised to finish the week down 2.3%, a decline that contrasts sharply with the significant advances made by three standout performers within the index.

Two of this week's top gainers are companies engaged in coal mining, while the third specializes in rare earths.

So, which high-flying stocks are leading the charge?

Here are the details.

ASX 200 Stocks Benefiting from Rising Coal Prices

The two ASX coal shares on the list of this week's top performers are Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) and Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL).

Yancoal shares have delivered an exceptional performance. After closing last Friday at $6.33, the shares were trading at $7.96 at the time of writing, representing a impressive weekly gain of 25.7% amidst the broader market slump.

Whitehaven shares have also experienced a strong rally. Having ended last week at $8.48, the shares are now trading at $9.38 each, marking a rise of 10.6%.

Both miners have benefited from improved investor sentiment driven by surging coal prices. Thermal coal prices are concluding the week near US$139 per tonne, a increase of approximately 19% for March, fueled by energy security concerns stemming from escalating conflict in the Middle East.

While Yancoal did not release any price-sensitive news this week, Whitehaven received an additional boost on Thursday. Its shares closed the session up 6.7% after the company announced it had secured public credit ratings from S&P, Fitch, and Moody's.

These investment-grade ratings are anticipated to provide Whitehaven with enhanced access to global debt capital markets.

This leads to the third standout performer.

Another Stock Outpacing the Benchmark

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) shares have also rewarded investors this week.

After closing at $18.33 last Friday, Lynas shares were trading at $20.27 in late afternoon trade today, resulting in a weekly gain of 10.8% that significantly outpaces the index's losses.

The entirety of these gains, and more, were achieved on Wednesday, March 11th.

Lynas shares soared 16.2% that day following the company's report of an amended supply agreement with Japan Australia Rare Earths (JARE).

The new agreement extends JARE's offtake commitment for 5,000 tonnes per year of NdPr (neodymium and praseodymium) through to 2038. Lynas is guaranteed a minimum price of US$110 per kilogram for these rare earths.

Additionally, JARE has committed to purchasing 50% of all Heavy Rare Earth (HRE) oxides produced by Lynas.

Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze stated, "We are delighted that the revised 12-year availability and supply agreement with JARE will support both Japanese industry and the continued growth and development of Lynas."