Gold miners gain as bullion hovers near record high

** Shares of gold miners rise, tracking higher bullion prices GOL/

** Spot gold XAU= rise 0.6% to $3,650.01/ounce after hitting a record high of $3,673.95 on Tuesday

** Gold prices rise, buoyed by reinforced expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts at the central bank's meeting next week, following softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data

** Top miners Newmont NEM.N and Barrick Mining ABX.TO rises 3.3% and 1.3% respectively

** U.S.-listed shares of South African miners Gold Fields GFI.N, Harmony Gold HMY.N and AngloGold Ashanti AU.N up between 2.8% and 4.1%

** Canadian miners Kinross Gold K.TO gain 1.1% and Agnico Eagle Mines AEM.TO rise 1.4%