* Stocks drop 2.8%, FX down 0.6%

* Poland producer prices fall below expectations

* Gulf States request urgent talks at UNHRC on Iran's

strikes, documents show

* Central bank policy decisions awaited in Czech

Republic, Ukraine

By Twesha Dikshit

March 19 (Reuters) - Emerging market equities and

currencies tumbled on Thursday as the escalating conflict in the

Middle East threatened energy infrastructure and spooked

investors, while markets also awaited several central bank

decisions.

Iran reacted to an attack on its vast South Pars gas field

on Wednesday by threatening oil and gas infrastructure across

the Gulf and firing missiles at Qatar and Saudi Arabia, sending

Brent crude to more than $115 a barrel.

U.S. President Donald Trump said an angry Israel had

attacked the Iranian gas field, but would not make any such

further moves unless Iran retaliated.

"EM assets remain under pressure as the war in Iran

continues, although the nature of that pressure has evolved in

subtle and important ways underneath the headline level," said

analysts at Goldman Sachs.

"As the conflict has extended, fundamental factors such as

terms of trade and earnings sensitivities have started to play a

larger role. We expect to see that type of differentiation

persist and extend in the days ahead."

The MSCI EM equities index dropped 2.8%, while a

corresponding currencies gauge was down 0.6%.

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Markets have also turned their attention to monetary policy

in a week packed with central bank meetings.

While the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada held

rates steady on Wednesday, their leaders signalled they are on

alert, wary that rising energy prices could spark a fresh wave

of inflation.

Taiwan's central bank also left rates steady as widely

expected and increased its inflation forecast, but raised its

growth outlook for the year on booming tech exports.

Investors now await

Stocks in the Czech Republic slipped 0.7%, while the

crown was flat. Most regional indexes were lower, with

those in Poland and Greece falling 1.3% and

1.9%, respectively.

Official data in Poland showed that producer prices fell less

than expected in February from a year earlier, while wages rose

below economists' forecasts.

Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski said geopolitics was expected

to have a limited impact on inflation in Poland, despite a rise

in energy prices.

Bourses in the Middle East were mixed, with those in Egypt

and Oman gaining 3.4% and 1.3%, respectively.

Qatar's index fell 1%.

Documents showed that Gulf states requested an urgent debate at

the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva over Iran's

strikes on civilians and energy infrastructure across the Middle

East.

The Hungarian forint was 0.5% weaker against the

euro, while the Polish zloty also ticked lower. The

Turkish lira lost 0.3% against the dollar.

Shares in South Africa, a major gold and platinum

exporter, slumped 4.4% tracking bullion prices.

Asian markets, most of which are vulnerable to energy shocks

as importers, came under renewed pressure after partially

recovering this week.

Benchmark indexes in South Korea, Taiwan and

Hong Kong were down between 1.9% and 2.7%. India's Nifty

50 and Sensex were down 3% each.

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