** Shares of Australian miners .AXMM gain as much as 0.4%, their highest level since February 24

** The sub-index tracks iron ore prices, which rose on the back of strong steel demand in top buyer China IRONORE/

** Sector giant Rio Tinto RIO.AX up as much as 1.6%, hitting its highest since May 28

** Mining behemoth BHP Group BHP.AX climbs 0.3% while South32 S32.AX adds 3.6% after the diversified miner reported strong quarterly manganese output

** AXMM up 5.8% this year, including the day's move

(Reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee in Bengaluru)

((Rajasik.Mukherjee@thomsonreuters.com))