* Dollar broadly firm, facing tough resistance at 118.60 yen
* Nikkei jumps 2.50 pct, close would be highest since Dec 2015
* Spreadbetters point to a firm opening for European bourses
* Factory surveys point to more momentum in global economy
* Signs of faster inflation in EU, US push up bond yields
* Oil steadies after retreating from 18-month top
By Wayne Cole
SYDNEY, Jan 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar crept nearer to 14-year peaks on Wednesday as an abundance of upbeat global economic data boosted Wall Street and signs of quickening inflation dented fixed-income debt.
Spreadbetters pointed to a firm opening for European bourses, while E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 added another 0.1 percent.
The strength of the U.S. currency kept a lid on commodity prices, but helped Japan's exporter-heavy stock market rally toward its biggest daily increase in almost two months.
In its first trading day of the year, the Nikkei climbed 2.50 percent and looked set for the highest finish since December 2015. It was further aided by domestic data showing factory activity had expanded at the fastest pace in a year.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific stocks outside Japan was on track for a seventh straight session of gains, with shares up 0.2 percent.
The brightening mood followed a round of upbeat factory surveys from China, the euro zone and United States. Analysts at Barclays said their measure of global manufacturing confidence hit its highest since December 2013.
U.S. factory activity sped to a two-year high amid a surge in new orders, while manufacturing in the euro zone grew at its fastest pace in five years.
Notably, the U.S. ISM showed a sharp pick up in raw material prices, which stoked speculation stimulus measures proposed by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump could generate more inflation.
Wall Street's rally was further aided by gains in Verizon Communications and technology companies Alphabet and Facebook. The Dow ended Tuesday up 0.6 percent, while the S&P 500 gained 0.85 percent and the Nasdaq 0.85 percent.
Ford Motor jumped 3.79 percent on news it would cancel a planned $1.6-billion factory in Mexico and invest $700 million at a Michigan factory, after Trump harshly criticized the Mexico investment plan.
The same news slugged the Mexican peso, leaving it at its lowest-ever close against the U.S. dollar.
DOLLAR IN DEMAND
The dollar's strength was broad-based and it hit a 14-year peak on a basket of currencies at 103.82 before profit-taking pulled it back a touch to 103.32.
After an early pause on the yen, the U.S. currency edged up to 118.11 and back toward major chart resistance around 118.60/66. A floundering euro was pinned at $1.0402, having dived as deep as $1.0342 overnight.