SINGAPORE, July 31 (Reuters) - Asian stocks clung to

familiar ranges on Wednesday after contrasting results from tech

bellwether Microsoft ( MSFT ) and chipmaker AMD suggested a divide in the

AI landscape while the yen was firm ahead of the Bank of Japan's

policy decision.

Central banks dominate investor attention on Wednesday, with

the decision from the Federal Reserve also due later in the day

with markets expecting the U.S. central bank to stand pat on

rates but indicate rate cuts are on the way.

The BOJ on the other hand is expected to detail plans to

taper its huge bond buying on Wednesday and debate whether to

raise interest rates.

That along with escalating geopolitical tensions in the

Middle East kept sentiment in check with the Israeli government

claiming it killed Hezbollah's most senior commander in an air

strike on Beirut on Tuesday.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan

was 0.23% higher but on course for a 1.2%

decline for the month, snapping a five-month winning streak.

Investors remain jittery about the AI frenzy and tech

valuations as results from tech bellwethers reinforced the idea

that the payoff in hefty AI investments may take longer than

first thought.

Disappointing earnings from Microsoft ( MSFT ) sent its

shares along with other tech firms lower, while strong earnings

from Advanced Micro Devices ( AMD ) spurred a rally in chip

stocks. Nasdaq futures rebounded and was last up 0.7%.

Japan's Nikkei fell 1% in early trading, on course

for a 3.7% decline in July, weighed by the yen's ascent.

The yen was 0.20% higher at 152.465 per dollar, on

course for a 5.5% gain in July, its strongest monthly

performance since November 2022. The yen started July rooted

near 38-year lows of 161.96 as the wide gap between interest

rates in Japan and other developed nations weighed.

But a slew of factors including likely official

intervention, a sell-off in equities and a reassessment of

popular carry trades have helped the yen rebound to a 12-week

high hit last week.

At the end of its two-day meeting, the BOJ will decide on a

quantitative tightening plan that will likely halve monthly bond

buying in 1-1/2 to two years' time - a pace roughly in line with

dominant market forecasts.

But the focus will also be on whether the BOJ will raise

rates, with several Japanese media reporting that the bank would

consider raising rates, citing unidentified sources.

"I think the conundrum is that for the BOJ to signal it is

serious about finally starting down the path of tighter monetary

policy, just scaling back its bond buying programme is not

enough," said Stuart Cole, chief economist at Equiti Capital.

Cole said the BOJ may announce plans not to buy as many

bonds, but any bond buying is still further loosening monetary

policy.

"If we get only a tepid scaling back in the bond purchase

program and no rate hike, then it will just leave a big sense of

disappointment and the yen will sell off again," he said.

FED PIVOT

While the Fed is widely expected to hold interest rates, the

spotlight is squarely on whether the central bank opens the door

to a September cut.

Markets are fully pricing in a 25 basis point cut in

September, with roughly 68 bps of easing priced in for the year.

The dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency

against six rivals, was at 104.41 and is down 1.36% for July.

Some analysts though expect the Fed to remain cautious in

the face of a still tight labour market.

In commodities, U.S. crude was 0.67% higher at $75.23

per barrel and Brent was at $79.02 per barrel, up 0.5%

on the day.