** Australian miners .AXMM fall as much as 4.5% to mark their steepest intraday pct decline in a month

** The broader mining sub-index mirrors weakness in bullion, pressured by stronger dollar and waning rate-cut hopes as the Middle East conflict fuels inflation concerns GOL/

** Mining major BHP BHP.AX down 4.3%, set for its worst session since April 2025, while Rio Tinto RIO.AX slips 3.1%

** Mining sub-index up 13.6%, YTD

(Reporting by Anjali Singh in Bengaluru)

((anjali.singh2@thomsonreuters.com;))