** Australian gold stocks .AXGD up as much as 2%, hit record high

** Sub-index on track for a third session of gains, if current trends hold

** Gold soared past the $3,200 mark on Friday, as a faltering dollar and an escalating U.S.-China trade war stirred recession fears, sending investors flocking to the safety of the yellow metal GOL/

** Shares gold miners Evolution Mining EVN.AX and Northern Star Resources NST.AX up 2% and 0.6%, respectively

** Sub-index last up 1.8%, gaining 42.5% this year, as of last close

(Reporting by Sherin Sunny in Bengaluru)

((Sherin.Sunny@thomsonreuters.com;))