Updates

** Shares of gold miners gain, tracking a rise in prices of the bullion GOL/

** Spot gold XAU= up 1.1% at $3,976.215/ounce

** Gold prices rise as investors avoid risky assets despite stronger-than-expected private payrolls data in the U.S

** Top miners Newmont NEM.N up 3% and Barrick Mining ABX.TO up 3.2%

** U.S.-listed shares of South African miners Sibanye Stillwater SBSW.N up 1.1%, Gold Fields GFI.N up 7%, Harmony Gold HMY.N and AngloGold Ashanti AU.N each gain 4.2%

** Canadian miners Kinross Gold K.TO and Agnico Eagle Mines AEM.TO up 6.4% and 2.4%, respectively

(Reporting by Katha Kalia and Dharna Bafna in Bengaluru)

((Katha.Kalia@thomsonreuters.com))