** Australian gold miners .AXGD shed 8.2% this week
** On track for their worst week in nearly 3 years, if current trends hold
** AXGD sub-index down 0.5% at 12,211.5 points on the day, while broader index .AXJO declines 0.2%
** Australian mining sub-index .AXMM also set for a weekly decline of 4.4%, if losses continue
** Gold prices fell on Friday as an overall stronger U.S. dollar and the prospect of fewer U.S. interest rate cuts offset support from rising geopolitical risks in the Middle East GOL/
** Sector heavyweights Northern Star Resources NST.AX down 0.4%, Evolution Mining EVN.AX falls nearly 0.8% to A$7.715, its lowest since May 15
** YTD - AXGD up nearly 45%, AXMM down 1.1%, AXJO up 4.2%
(Reporting by Jasmeen Ara Shaikh in Bengaluru)
((JasmeenAraIslam.Shaikh@thomsonreuters.com;))