• Australian gold stocks fall as much as 1.4%, hitting their lowest level since April 8

• Gold prices fell to a more than one-week low on Thursday, pressured by stronger dollar, and worries that inflationary fallout from the Middle East conflict could keep U.S. interest rates higher for longer [GOL/]

• Northern Star Resources falls 2.2% and Evolution Mining sheds 1.2%

• Sub-index down 4% YTD vs the broader market's 0.5% rise

(Reporting by Shruti Agarwal in Bengaluru)