• Australian gold miners rise as much as 4.4%, marking their biggest intraday pct jump since April 8, after the bullion rose for a third consecutive day

• AXGD at its highest level since April 29

• Gains in gold were supported by a softer dollar as hopes grew for a Middle East peace deal after Iran said on Wednesday it was reviewing a U.S. proposal that sources say would formally end the war [GOL/]

• Shares of Evolution Mining surge 5.5% and Northern Star Resources gain 3%

• Sub-index down 6.6% YTD, primarily from losses in March after the Iran war began in late-February

(Reporting by Shruti Agarwal in Bengaluru)