** Australian gold stocks .AXGD fall as much as 1.6% to
hit their lowest level since March 24
** Gold prices on track to log biggest weekly loss since
February as prospects of additional rate hikes by the U.S.
Federal Reserve this year supported dollar GOL/
** Gold Road Resources GOR.AX falls as much as 6.9% and
hits its lowest level since March 17
** St Barbara falls 4.2% to its lowest since Oct. 21
** Sector major Newcrest Mining NCM.AX and Northern Star
Resources NST.AX falls as much as 0.8% and 2.1%, respectively
** The sub-index is down for a fourth straight session and
is set to post its worst weekly fall since May-end
** AXGD up 12.8% this year, as of last close, vs a 2.2% gain
in benchmark index .AXJO
(Reporting by Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru)
((Himanshi.Akhand@thomsonreuters.com;))