* MSCI EM stocks down 0.2%, FX up 0.1%

* U.S. PCE, Q2 GDP estimates later in the day

* Hungary preliminary Q2 GDP lower-than-expected

By Utkarsh Hathi

July 30 (Reuters) - Most emerging market stocks extended

losses on Thursday as uncertainty over the U.S. Federal

Reserve's policy path and firmer oil prices due to renewed

Middle East tensions kept investors on edge.

The Fed held rates steady on Wednesday, and Fed Chair Kevin

Warsh reiterated the central bank's commitment to contain

inflation, but offered no clues about future action, leaving

markets confused.

Analysts characterized the decision as a "hawkish hold", as

three members dissented and preferred a quarter-point rate hike.

"Markets still think the Fed will tighten policy at some

point, but with two inflation prints and two job reports ahead

of the September FOMC meeting, nothing is guaranteed," said

James Knightley, chief international economist at ING.

The dollar index was stable on Thursday, recovering from

a drop after the Fed decision, with oil prices firming as

traders weighed fresh U.S. attacks on Iran against hopes for a

resolution.

MSCI's global EM currencies index gained

0.1%, while the equivalent equities gauge declined

0.2%.

Meanwhile, Asia's tech-heavy bourses extended losses, as South

Korean shares slipped 1.2%. A brutal selloff in

chipmakers in recent weeks has led the index to lose more than a

third of its value this month, prompting the government to

consider additional curbs on single-stock leveraged

exchange-traded funds.

Chinese equities fell 1.1%, and Taiwan's benchmark

dipped 0.3%.

Bucking the trend, MSCI's index tracking Central and Eastern

Europe rose 1.7%, with Polish stocks

gaining the most, 0.8%. Romanian stocks lost 1.9%,

However, the index has outperformed regional peers this year on

higher crude prices.

Hungarian equities were little changed. Preliminary data

showed the economy grew 1.7% in the second quarter, on an annual

basis, below analysts' expectations. The Czech economy also grew

but slower than expected, data showed.

Except for the Polish zloty, which rose 0.3%

against the euro, other currencies in the region were subdued.

Most Asian currencies were flat to lower against the dollar,

except the Korean won, which advanced 0.3%.

Investors will also scrutinise U.S. June inflation data and

second-quarter economic growth figures, due later in the day,

for clues on monetary policy outlook in the absence of clarity

from the Fed.

South Africa's rand and its stocks were

little changed, while the Turkish lira edged 0.1%

lower, and equities lost 0.6%.

Elsewhere, a drone hit a U.S.-owned gas storage tanker in Egypt

on Wednesday. Egypt's longer-dated bonds slid

1.2 cents, while those in Qatar, Saudi Arabia

, and United Arab Emirates

dropped more than 1 cent, Tradeweb data showed.

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