• Australian gold stocks rise as much as 4.2%, logging their biggest intraday pct gain since August 20

• Sub-index tracks gold prices, which climbed more than 1% on Thursday supported by a weaker dollar and lower US Treasury yields [GOL/]

• Evolution Mining rises 3%, while Northern Star Resources gains over 3%

• AXGD down nearly 4% this year, including the day's move

(Reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee in Bengaluru)