** Australian gold stocks .AXGD fall as much as 2.1% to 10,814.10, lowest since July 9

** Gold fell on improved risk sentiment amid trade deals GOL/

** Evolution Mining EVN.AX loses 2.3%; Vault Minerals VAU.AX drops 3.3%

** Northern Star Resources NST.AX down 0.7%

** YTD, AXGD gains 29%

(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)

((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com))