** Australian gold stocks .AXGD fall 5.6% from its record-high hit in the previous session

** Sub-index hits lowest level in a week, on track to snap seven session of straight gains

** Gold prices fell more than 1% overnight as comments by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinting at a thaw in U.S.-China trade tensions fuelled optimism in equities and strengthened the dollar GOL/

** Shares of Northern Star Resources NST.AX and Evolution Mining EVN.AX fall 5.0% and 7.6%, respectively

** Both Northern Star and Evolution Mining hit lowest level in a week

** AXGD surged 54.9% this year, as of last close, vs a 4.2% fall in the benchmark index .AXJO

(Reporting by John Biju in Bengaluru)

((John.Biju@thomsonreuters.com))