RPT-EMERGING MARKETS-Asian FX gain on weaker dollar, Indian shares gain on ICICI Bank boost

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* Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E

* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4

* Asian currencies strengthen on weaker U.S dollar

* Indian shares climb after ICICI Bank posts strong results

* Investors look ahead to Fed meeting later this week

By Harish Sridharan

April 26 (Reuters) - Asian currencies gained on Monday as the dollar weakened on bets the U.S. Federal Reserve will retain an accommodative monetary policy at its meeting later this week, while Indian shares were boosted by robust results from a major lender.

The greenback slipped to a two-month low amid speculation U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will shun talk of tapering bond purchases at a policy meeting on Wednesday. USD/

"The Fed has stated that it will maintain its accommodative monetary policy stance for some time, providing these countries (EM Asia) with some breathing space in terms of further policy easing. The Federal Open Market Committee meeting this week will provide more colour on the subject," analysts at Mizuho said in a note.

Indian shares .NSEI traded 1.3% firmer after a lacklustre performance last week, with sentiment boosted by a 6.2% jump in shares of private-sector lender ICICI Bank ICBK.NS , which reported a more than three-fold surge in March-quarter profit.

The results helped offset otherwise weak sentiment in the region, as the country set a global record for a rise in daily COVID-19 cases for a fifth consecutive day, amid severely strained healthcare facilities and widespread curbs on activities. manufacturing output for March increased 7.6% from last year, but fell 1.7% against the prior month and missed an estimate of 2.2% growth. Shares .STI and the Singapore dollar SGD= were largely unchanged after the announcement.

A strong lead from Wall Street overnight boosted broader equities in Southeast Asia, with shares in Malaysia .KLSE gaining and Taiwan .TWII scaling yet more record highs.

Thai stocks .SETI lagged peers, after the country's central bank on Sunday warned it is likely to slash its economic growth outlook for this year and next due to a rapidly spreading third wave of COVID-19 infections. sentiment looks bearish on the domestic front amid growing worries over the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic," analysts at Philip Research (Thailand) said in a note.

Elsewhere, the Turkish lira dipped in early trading to near an all-time low as a chill settled on relations with the United States and after the country's new central bank chief signalled rate hikes would harm the economy. Top gainer on the Taiwan SE Weighted Index was Space Shuttle Hi-Tech Co Ltd 2440.TW , up 10.0%

** Top gainer on FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kl Index .KLSE was Supermax Corporation Bhd SUPM.KL , up 5.04%

** The biggest gainers in the NSE index were ICICI Bank Ltd ICBK.NS and State Bank of India SBI.NS , up 4.96% and 2.96%, respectively

Asia stock indexes and

currencies at 0509 GMT

COUNTRY FX RIC

FX

FX INDE STOCKS STOCK

DAILY YTD %

X DAILY S YTD

%

%

% Japan

JPY=

+0.19 -4.14 <.N2 #VALUE #VALU

25>

!

E! China

0.19 0.22

S>

EC>

India

INR=IN

+0.27 -2.33 <.NS

1.33 3.93

EI>

Indones IDR=

+0.17 -3.14 <.JK -0.60 0.03 ia

SE>

Malaysi MYR=

+0.15 -1.98 <.KL

0.47 -0.69 a

SE>

Philipp PHP=

-0.21 -0.66 <.PS

0.18 -10.5 ines

I>

1 S.Korea

0.66 11.61

C>

11>

Singapo SGD=

+0.08 -0.34 <.ST

0.08 12.40 re

I>

Taiwan

TWD=TP

+0.54 +1.87 <.TW

1.39 19.06

II>

Thailan THB=TH

-0.03 -4.68 <.SE

0.14 7.34 d

TI>