EMERGING MARKETS-Stocks recover on technology boost, FX edges higher

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EM stocks, FX rebound from three-day decline

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Pakistan bonds drop after Iran strike

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Kenya to tap international bonds markets

By Amruta Khandekar

Jan 18 (Reuters) - Emerging market stocks rebounded on Thursday after upbeat earnings from Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC lifted technology shares across Asia while currencies also edged higher against a subdued dollar as investors eyed the U.S. interest rate path.

MSCI's index for emerging market equities climbed 0.5% by 0926 GMT, with China's blue-chip shares bouncing off a five-year low.

Aiding sentiment towards technology stocks across the globe, the world's largest contract chipmaker TSMC beat quarterly profit estimates and projected upwards of 20% revenue growth this year.

Hong Kong's technology shares rose 0.5%, while shares of South Korean chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix gained 1.0% and 4.0%, respectively.

A gauge of EM currencies inched 0.2% higher against a muted dollar.

EM stocks and currencies fell in the past three sessions while the dollar rallied after a slew of global central bankers pushed back against expectations of early interest rate cuts this year.

On Thursday, the South African rand rose 0.4% against the dollar and regional stocks also added 1.1%.

The South Korean won outperformed other Asian currencies, rising 0.6%, while the Chinese yuan hovered close to a near two-month low. "We expect yuan to underperform vs Asia FX and other EM blocs this year," Alex Loo, FX and macro strategist at TD Securities, said in a note.

"China's murky economic outlook isn't favourable for the yuan," said Loo, adding equities could see a further hit if authorities don't step up intervention.

Pakistan's international bonds fell after the foreign ministry said it conducted strikes inside Iran on Thursday, two days after Tehran said it had attacked the bases of another group within Pakistani territory. The country's benchmark stock index slipped 0.9%.

Kenya intends to go to international bond markets as soon as the market situation allows, its finance minister and central bank governor said, a day after the East African nation secured the International Monetary Fund's approval for a $941 million lending.

The Kenyan shilling was down 0.5%, hitting fresh record lows against the dollar.

The Russian rouble held steady at around the 88 to the dollar mark.

HIGHLIGHTS

** Pakistan's 2026 bond falls nearly 1 cent on the dollar

** Shares of TSMC up 1.2% after profit beat

** Indian shares buck broader trend, down 0.5%

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(Reporting by Amruta Khandekar; Editing by Eileen Soreng)