FOREX-Euro races past the $1.18 line as inflows intensify

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* Unhedged equity inflows boost single currency

* Euro zone growth blows past U.S. in the third quarter

* Graphic: World FX rates in 2017 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh

LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The euro popped above the 1.18 line for the first time in three weeks on Wednesday as investors resumed buying European equities while the dollar found itself on the back foot for a second day as U.S. bond yields decline.

With the euro zone's annual economic growth rate outstripping that of the United states in the third quarter, led by Germany, markets are increasingly optimistic about the region's outlook. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N1NK57Q

"The dollar is getting hit against the euro and the yen and the strong data out of Europe is definitely a factor with some investors bailing out of the long dollar trade," said Alvin Tan, an FX strategist at Societe Generale in London.

The single currency EUR=EBS punched through a key technical level of $1.1734 on Tuesday and extended gains on Wednesday to rise 0.2 percent at $1.1824 against the dollar.

Over the last few sessions, unhedged purchases of European stocks have picked up noticeably after declining in October.

Despite the rise, some investors remain sceptical about the outlook for the currency, with a Bank of America Merrill Lynch fund manager survey for November pointing out that the percentage of investors saying the euro is overvalued has grown to 12 percent from 4 percent in the previous month.

Elsewhere, the Australian dollar was the big mover of the Asian session, skidding 0.6 percent against its U.S. counterpart to $0.7587AUD=D4 , brushing its lowest levels since July.

Data showed Australian wages rose only 0.5 percent in the third quarter and 2.0 percent for the year, falling short of 0.7 percent and 2.2 percent respectively and challenging the Reserve Bank of Australia's view that wages would pick up. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N1NL0RE

The dollar fell for a second session as falling U.S. stocks and declining U.S. yields weighed on the greenback. MKTS/GLOB

"Risk sentiment has soured somewhat in the last week or so, as the U.S. equity rally has run out of steam," said Ray Attrill, Sydney-based global co-head of forex strategy at National Australia Bank.

The dollar index .DXY fell 0.3 percent to 93.558 on Wednesday as investors awaited U.S. consumer inflation data for October, due later on Wednesday, that is expected to show a marginal increase in consumer prices.

For Reuters Live Markets blog on European and UK stock markets see reuters://realtime/verb=Open/url=http://emea1.apps.cp.extranet.thomsonreuters.biz/cms/?pageId=livemarkets

(Reporting by Saikat Chatterjee; Additional reporting by Lisa Twaronite in TOKYO; Editing by Catherine Evans) ((saikat.chatterjee@thomsonreuters.com; +44-20-7542-1713; Reuters Messaging: saikat.chatterjee.reuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: GLOBAL FOREX/

Referenced Symbols:EFX,

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