• Australian gold stocks rise as much as 2.7% to their highest level since June 18

• Sub-index headed for best week since November 2022, if 15.9% gain holds

• Gold on course for best week since January helped by weaker oil prices [GOL/]

• Australia's top gold miner Northern Star Resources

up 1.6%, Evolution Mining up 1.5%

• YTD, sub-index down 4.5%

(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)