FOREX-Dollar underpinned by inflation data, all eyes on Fed

* Dollar firmer against many of its major counterparts

* Upside inflation surprise helps lift demand for USD

* Market awaits Fed meeting outcome and Yellen's press conference

* Sterling a shade below 5-year high after soft inflation data

By Ian Chua and Hideyuki Sano

SYDNEY/TOKYO, June 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar held onto modest gains on Wednesday, following its broad strengthening after U.S. consumer prices had their largest increase in more than a year in May, sparking speculation the Fed may inch closer to rate hikes.

The dollar index last stood at 80.607, having climbed 0.2 percent on Tuesday. Against the yen, the greenback reached a one-week high of 102.245, while the euro retreated from a one-week peak hit on Tuesday to $1.3547.

The U.S. consumer price index rose 0.4 percent, double what economists had expected, raising the risk that a separate inflation gauge watched by the Fed also pushed higher in May.

The data came as U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers prepared to conclude a two-day meeting.

"Almost all measures of U.S. price pressure are rising, and the CPI (Other OTC: CPICQ - news) shows the clear upswing," said Emma Lawson, senior currency strategist at National Australia Bank in Sydney.

"With the U.S. labour market improving, and the Fed's other mandate being stable prices, these type of inflation pick-ups will make it difficult for the Fed to ignore," she said.

The Fed is widely expected to chop another $10 billion from its monthly bond purchases, but is considered unlikely to make other concrete policy moves.

The focus will be on Fed Chair Janet Yellen's press conference for any clues to longer-term plans for rates.

"It's been a while since Yellen's last conference. So markets will be keen to know what she thinks of the economy after this inflation data," said Takako Masai, executive officer at Shinsei Bank (Frankfurt: LCJ.F - news) .

A recent Reuters poll found a majority of Wall Street's top bond firms don't see the Fed raising rates before the second half of next year.

Any indication that rates might be lifted sooner could spark a rally in the U.S. dollar.

"Our economics team expects the Fed will, in fact, deliver a more hawkish message," analysts at BNP Paribas (Milan: BNP.MI - news) wrote in a note to clients.

"The statement is likely to upgrade views on inflation and the labour market and the projections of future Fed funds rates are likely to show a creep higher relative to those presented in March," they said.

In contrast, minutes of Australia's central bank meeting on June were more dovish than expected.

Released on Tuesday, the minutes showed policymakers predicted subpar economic growth for the whole year ahead and reiterated the central bank's preference to keep interest rates low for some time to come.

That knocked 0.7 percent off the Australian dollar, which dipped to $0.9337, about a full cent off a two-month peak hit just a week ago.

Traders see initial support in the 0.9320/30 zone, an area that provided a base in early May and then turned resistance after the Aussie broke decisively lower in mid-May. The level also represents the 50 percent retracement of its most recent rally from $0.9229 to $0.9348.

The British pound also lost steam after data showed British inflation dropped more than expected in May, tempering expectations the Bank of England will raise interest rates later this year.

The pound stood flat at $1.6962, off a five-year high of $1.7011 hit on Monday. (Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Richard Borsuk)