** Australian gold stocks .AXGD rise 3.6% to 17,289.3 in early trade after hitting record high briefly
** Gold broke through the $4,100 per ounce mark for the first time on Monday, amid U.S.-China trade tensions and U.S. rate cut expectations GOL/
** Northern Star Resources NST.AX is up 4.1%, Evolution Mining EVN.AX soars 4.3%
** Smaller producers Bellevue Gold BGL.AX and Vault Minerals VAU.AX up 4.7% each
** YTD, sub-index has more than doubled in value
(Reporting by Nichiket Sunl in Bengaluru)
((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com))