* Sterling hits near 8-week high vs euro of 81.43 pence * Trade-weighted sterling hits 1-year high * Sterling slips vs broadly higher dollar; risk assets slide (Adds detail, updates prices By Naomi Tajitsu LONDON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Sterling hit its highest in nearly eight weeks against the euro on Monday on speculation that monetary policy in the euro zone would remain more accommodative than in Britain. However, the pound slipped against the dollar, which rose broadly as a slide in U.S. shares suggested a chill in demand for risky assets. Traders also cited fixing-related demand to sell sterling in late London trade. The euro EURGBP=D4 slipped to 81.43 pence, its weakest since late June, as the single currency struggled after European Central Bank Governing Council member Axel Weber said late last week the ECB should extend its loose monetary stance. Analysts said weekly data showing a rise in bets against the euro suggested it would remain weak versus the pound, while the Bank of England looked much less likely than the ECB to loosen monetary policy given a run of strong UK economic data. The latest data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed speculators turned net short on sterling in the week to Aug. 17, but there was a bigger increase in bets against the euro. [IMM/FX] "The IMM positioning data pointed to an increase in short euro/sterling positions. Weber's words carry a lot of weight and they are clearly dovish for the euro," said Kenneth Broux, market economist at Lloyds. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ At 1513 GMT, the euro was down 0.2 percent at 81.64 pence EURGBP=D4. It earlier fell as low as 81.43 pence, its weakest since June 30, after traders said stop loss orders were triggered below 81.60 pence. A lack of follow-through selling later helped push the euro off its lows, though traders said demand for the single currency around the 81.55/60 pence level was met by offers around 81.75, helping to keep the pair within a range. Gains against the euro helped lift the pound to a fresh one-year high against a basket of currencies of 83.1 =GBP early on Monday, following a climb on Friday. "Euro/sterling went through some key levels and a move towards the 81.00 pence area looks likely, with the euro staying under pressure and broadly underperforming," said Ian Stannard, currency strategist at BNP Paribas. The next target is the June low around 80.67 pence. A move below that level would take the euro to its lowest since November 2008. Against the dollar GBP=D4, the pound was slightly lower on the day at $1.5510, pulling away from a session peak of $1.5620. A slide in U.S. stock prices from early gains .DJI .SPX coincided with a broad rise in the dollar and losses in currencies considered to be higher risk, including the pound. Sterling also followed the euro lower against the dollar after the single currency broke under its 55-day moving average, a key technical level. But the pound managed to tread above its 200-day moving average at $1.5476, and technical analysts said its upside bias remained as long as sterling continued to close above the 200-day average mark. For it to extend gains, however, it would need to sustain a move above $1.57, something it has struggled to do in recent days. (Additional reporting by Jessica Mortimer; editing by Nigel Stephenson)

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