** Shares of Australian gold miners fall as much as 1.7% after a nine-session rally
** Sub-index posts its biggest intraday drop since Dec. 20, 2024
** Bullion prices dip on easing tensions in the Middle East
** Heavyweight Northern Star Resources skids 2.6% in its worst intraday drop since Dec. 19, while Evolution Mining
falls 1.3%
** Sub-index rose 14.3% in 2024
(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)
((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com;))