Singapore/New York — The euro stood at an 18-month high, silver soared and commodities forged ahead on Wednesday, as the hope for economic recovery drove bets on rebounding world demand and a falling US dollar.’

Stock markets in Asia ground higher, except in Australia where a surge in coronavirus infections put pressure on bank and travel shares and the benchmark index fell 1%. S&P 500 stock futures advanced 0.4% in line with the relatively positive mood...