** Australian gold stocks .AXGD rise 0.6% to 12,189.6 points

** The gold sub-index up 2.4% at 12,418.3 points earlier in the session, its highest level since April 23

** Gold prices ease after soaring to a two-week high on post-holiday buying from China GOL/

** Bullion miner Regis Resources RRL.AX up 2.8%, paring earlier gains of up to 6.2%

** Gold heavyweight Northern Star Resources NST.AX down 0.6% after having soared 3.1% in early trading

** YTD, sub-index up 44.7%

(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)

((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com))