** Australian gold stocks .AXGD rise 3.4% to 12,790.4 points; on track for biggest single-day pct rise since May 22

** Sub-index breaks 5-day losing streak

** Gold prices rose, bolstered by rising Middle East tensions and a weaker dollar, while softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data boosted Fed rate cut hopes GOL/

** Northern Star Resources NST.AX, Evolution Mining EVN.AX add 1.9% and 3.4%, respectively

** Smaller miners West African Resources WAF.AX, Genesis Minerals GMD.AX, Ramelius Resources RMS.AX and Capricorn Metals CMM.AX among top gainers on benchmark index .AXJO

** YTD, AXGD's ~47% rise outperforms AXJO's 5.5% gain

(Reporting by Jasmeen Ara Shaikh in Bengaluru)

((JasmeenAraIslam.Shaikh@thomsonreuters.com;))