* AUD hits highest since Feb, commodity currencies gain
* U.S. street clashes add caution but focus on virus
recovery
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
By Tom Westbrook
SINGAPORE, June 1 (Reuters) - Riskier currencies rose
against the dollar on Monday as investors looked to positive
signs from China's coronavirus recovery and wagered on an easing
in Sino-U.S. tensions.
The trade-sensitive Australian dollar AUD=D3 surged 1% to
a three-month high of $0.6742 to lead broader gains that put the
dollar close to an 11-week low on a basket of currencies.
U.S. President Donald Trump made no move to impose new
tariffs on China during a news conference on Friday where he
outlined his response to Beijing's tightening grip over Hong
Kong.
"That removed the near-term risk of any intensification of
the U.S.-China trade war," said Ray Attrill, head of FX strategy
at National Australia Bank in Sydney.
Moreover, investors were encouraged by the Caixin/Markit
Purchasing Managers Index showing marginal but unexpected
improvement in Chinese factory activity last month. The New Zealand dollar NZD=D3 rose about half a percent,
along with the pound GBP= and Canadian dollar CAD= . Against
a basket of currencies =USD the dollar fell 0.2% to 98.031,
close to an 11-week low of 97.944 touched last week.
The market mood was notable given major U.S. cities were
bracing for another night of violence, as demonstrations against
police brutality have turned into a wave of outrage.
Analysts said the unrest was concerning, and perhaps a
pointer to a close-run Presidential election in November, but
unlikely to shift short-term optimism about the U.S. economy.
"It's tough to be a bear at the moment and the path of least
resistance for risk remains to the upside in my opinion," said
Chris Weston, head of research at Melbourne brokerage
Pepperstone.
AUSSIE BOUNDS AHEAD
The Australian dollar was the standout gainer, though, and
hit milestone highs on crosses as well as the dollar - climbing
to a three-month high against the yen AUDJPY= and a 10-month
high on the loonie AUDCAD= . AUD/
The advance was underpinned not just by the better mood, but
also by the soaring price of its top export - iron ore - which
hit a record high on Monday. IRN/
"We're pretty optimistic about the Aussie this week," said
Commonwealth Bank of Australia FX analyst Joe Capurso.
"Market participants believe that the worst of the health
and financial and economic crises are now behind us ... and if
we're past the worst of it, then commodity currencies tend to do
well and the U.S. dollar tends to do poorly," he said.
The Reserve Bank of Australia meets to set monetary policy
on Tuesday, but is unlikely to change settings since Governor
Philip Lowe said clearly last week that further easing or
negative rates are unlikely to be required. Elsewhere the euro EUR=EBS rose 0.2% to $1.1135, just
below a two-month high of $1.1145, as investors drew confidence
from the European Union's plans for a coronavirus recovery fund.
The pound GBP= hit a three-week high of $1.2414 as Britain
moves out of lockdown. The Chinese yuan CNY= was 0.2% stronger
at 7.1996, catching up with Friday's relief rally in offshore
trade on hopes for easing Sino-U.S. tensions.