** Australian gold stocks .AXGD rise as much as 4.1%, their biggest intraday pct gain since May 12
** Sub-index set for its third consecutive session of gains, if current trend holds
** Benchmark .AXJO broadly flat
** Sub-index gains on the back of higher bullion prices
** Gold miners Evolution Mining EVN.AX and Northern Star Resources NST.AX rise as much as 4.1% and 5.5%, respectively
** YTD, AXGD down 10.8%, while AXJO down 0.6%
(Reporting by Aamir Sheik Khalid in Bengaluru)
((Aamir.SheikKhalid@thomsonreuters.com))