• Australian gold stocks rise as much as 3% in early trade, while the broader benchmark trades up 0.4%

• Sub-index logs the largest intraday pct jump since July 16

• Gold prices rose overnight on hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough between the U.S. and Iran, which could ease energy prices and temper expectations of a hawkish Federal Reserve [GOL/]

• Index leaders Northern Star Resources and Evolution Mining rise 3% and 4.5%, respectively

• YTD, AXGD down 18.7%, including the day's moves, lagging behind a 1.3% gain on the AXJO
(Reporting by Nikita Maria Jino in Bengaluru)