** Australian energy stocks .AXEJ rise as much as 1.1% to 7,457.1 pts, their highest level since April 4

** Oil prices soar 3% on investor hopes of a trade deal between the U.S. and China O/R

** Oil producer Karoon Energy KAR.AX is up as much as 3.3%, hitting A$1.488, its highest level since April 3

** Oil and gas majors Woodside Energy WDS.AX and Santos STO.AX are up 1.5% and 0.9% respectively

** Benchmark index .AXJO, meanwhile, is up 0.2%

** YTD, however, energy sub-index down 13.8%

(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)

((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com))