EMERGING MARKETS-Peso slides after Mexico's central bank decision; Fed rate uncertainty pressures broader Latam markets

* Banxico holds rates as expected * Mexico's headline inflation edges higher in Jan. * Brazil, Chile consumer prices above market forecasts * Peru rate decision on tap * Latam FX down 0.6%, stocks off 1.9% (Updated at 3:15pm ET/2015 GMT) By Amruta Khandekar and Lisa Pauline Mattackal Feb 8 (Reuters) - Mexico's peso slid on Thursday after central bank policymakers pointed to possible rate cuts in the near future, while broader Latin American markets slumped as investors further pushed back expectations for early policy easing from the U.S. Federal Reserve. The Bank of Mexico unanimously held benchmark interest rate at 11.25%, as expected, for a seventh straight meeting. However, policymakers hinted rate cuts could be on the table at future meetings. Mexico's peso extended earlier losses, falling 0.8% to 17.1559 to the dollar, its worst day in over three weeks. The country's benchmark stock index fell 1.5%, slipping off a record high. "The question is whether (Banxico) will merely follow the Fed lower with rates or feel confident enough to cut before the Fed," analysts at ING said. MSCI's index for Latin American currencies was also in the red, slipping 0.6% as the U.S. dollar leapt following strong labor market data. A gauge of regional stocks fell 1.9%. Several Fed speakers signaled little urgency to start easing policy in the United States soon, leading investors to further trim bets on interest rate cuts in March. The likelihood of a Fed rate cut in March, heavily priced in at the start of the year, now stands at 16.5%, according to the CME Group's FedWatch Tool. That repricing has dented emerging market assets, particularly in Latin America where several central banks have begun easing policy, reducing the relative appeal of their currencies. The Brazilian real was down 0.25% after data showed annual consumer price growth slowed to 4.5% in January but was still above forecasts. "The further fall in Brazilian inflation... last month keeps the door wide open for another 50bp (basis point) rate cut at the next central bank meeting in March," said Jason Tuvey, deputy chief emerging markets economist at Capital Economics. Data earlier in the day showed Mexico's headline inflation slightly sped up for the third month in a row. The Peruvian sol weakened to 3.86 per dollar. The country's central bank is expected to cut interest rates to 6.25% later on Thursday. Chile's peso fell 1.2%, with currencies of the leading copper producers hurt by a dip in prices of the red metal. Data showed consumer prices in Chile rose 0.7% in January. Colombia's peso was in the green, up 0.2%, after annual inflation rose in line with expectations. Brazilian shares, Chilean equities and Argentinian stocks slipped between 0.2% and 3.2%. Shares of Mexican cement maker Cemex slumped over 8% in their worst day since 2020 after posting a fourth-quarter loss on tax provisions. Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 2000 GMT: Latest Daily % change MSCI Emerging Markets 996.86 -0.57 MSCI LatAm 2529.95 -1.92 Brazil Bovespa 128403.87 -1.19 Mexico IPC 57811.81 -1.53 Chile IPSA 6001.20 -0.15 Argentina MerVal 1115907.05 -3.208 Colombia COLCAP 1270.44 -0.69 Currencies Latest Daily % change Brazil real 4.9925 0.01 Mexico peso 17.1559 -0.76 Chile peso 965.8 -1.23 Colombia peso 3942.5 0.20 Peru sol 3.86 -0.76 Argentina peso 830.6000 -0.05 (interbank) Argentina peso 1125 4.00 (parallel) (Reporting by Amruta Khandekar; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Aurora Ellis)