• Australian gold stocks fall as much as 1.9%, their lowest level since Sept 17

• Sub-index on course for fourth straight session of losses, if current trend holds

• Gold stocks drop on the back of falling bullion prices after they hovered near a more than seven-week low on concerns that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates higher for longer [GOL/]

• Gold miner Northern Star Resources falls 2.3% and Evolution Mining drops 0.3%

• YTD, AXGD down more than 3%

(Reporting by Aamir Sheik Khalid in Bengaluru)