GLOBAL MARKETS-Silver and euro gleaming as investor bets on economic recovery hurt dollar

© Reuters.

* Euro hits 18-month high of $1.1543, Aussie hits 1-year
peak
* Silver soars to a six-year peak
* Focus turns to U.S. fiscal package
* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4

By Tom Westbrook
SINGAPORE, July 22 (Reuters) - The euro stood at an 18-month
high, silver soared and commodities rose on Wednesday,
benefiting from hopes that key parts of the global economy are
heading in the right direction which also hurt the U.S. dollar.
But stock markets, which have surged this month, moved
mostly sideways in Asia, except in Australia where a jump in
coronavirus infections pushed the main index .AXJO 1.3% lower.
S&P 500 futures ESc1 were flat following a mixed session
on Wall Street, with economic optimism running into concern
about rising coronavirus cases. The focus has also turned to
political disagreement over the next U.S. rescue package.
German DAX futures FDXc1 , Euro STOXX 50 futures STXEc1
and FTSE futures FFIc1 were down about 0.3%, pointing to a
steady open after gains on Tuesday in the wake of European Union
leaders striking a deal for a region-wide rescue plan.
The euro's EUR=EBS rally gathered steam on that agreement,
a huge step toward both recovery and a stronger union, busting
through resistance at $1.15 as the dollar faltered. The common currency hit $1.1547 on Wednesday, its best since
January 2019, and the greenback capitulated against the
Australian dollar AUD=D3 too, which held at a year-high
$0.7144 and was bolstered by positive retail sales data.
In sum, bets against the dollar are nearing a two-year peak
touched a month ago and investors are net long on all of the G10
currencies against the dollar, save the pound and the Canadian
dollar, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data shows.
"Overall, sentiments are improving," said Vishnu Varathan,
head of economics at Mizuho Bank in Singapore. "It's given the
euro that afterburner, and it's true for the Aussie as well."
Bellwether copper prices rose in London CMCU3 and Shanghai
SCFcv1 , and Dalian iron ore futures DCIOcv1 rose for a
second straight session on expectations of strong Chinese
demand. MET/L IRONORE/
Precious metals soared as real bond yields have added to
their lustre of precious metals at the same time as industrial
demand has put a rocket under prices. GOL/
Spot silver XAG= rose 5% to a six-year high on Wednesday
and is up more than 15% for the week. Gold XAU= marked a fresh
nine-year high of $1,865.35.

STOCKS CAUTIOUS
News headlines kept optimism about a rebound for the global
economy in check.
The United States reported more than 1,000 deaths from
COVID-19 on Tuesday, the first time the grim milestone has been
passed since June, and President Donald Trump warned that things
will probably get worse before they get better. Republicans and Democrats are also at loggerheads over the
size of the next fiscal relief package as a month-end deadline
for extending unemployment insurance looms. "It remains to be seen if Republicans and Democrats have the
same resolve demonstrated by EU leaders to find middle ground by
next week," DBS analysts in Singapore said in a note.
The spread of the coronavirus also gathered pace in India,
Latin America, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Melbourne.
Japanese factory activity contracted for a 15th straight
month in July and geopolitical tensions are simmering.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 dipped 0.6%. MSCI's broadest index of
Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS fell 0.1% to
retreat from a five-month top made on Tuesday.
Oil prices remain rangebound, hurt by inventory concerns.
Brent futures LCOc1 slipped 0.4% to $44.14 per barrel and U.S.
crude fell 0.5% to $41.70 a barrel. O/R