* Graphic: World FX rates tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E * Asian stock markets: tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4 * Virus surge dampens risk sentiment across the region * South Korea reports better than expected economic growth * Investors eye Federal Reserve meeting later this week By Harish Sridharan April 27 (Reuters) - Asian stocks posted small moves and currencies were flat on Tuesday, as a surge in coronavirus cases in the region and the U.S. Federal Reserve"s meeting this week keep investors on edge. "Regional COVID-19 spikes, foremost in India, signs in Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, and accompanying curbs could be mitigating the influence of largely positive data prints," analysts at Maybank said, noting the mixed equities performance in Asia. Indian equities opened higher, with technology stocks leading the gains, as investors awaited a slew of quarterly results later in the day. The coronavirus crisis in the South Asian country, however, remained grim even as the daily rise in coronavirus cases retreated from record levels on Tuesday, but stayed above the 300,000 mark for a sixth straight day. Thai stocks edged 0.3% higher, while the baht strengthened 0.2%, even as the government shuttered parks, gyms and cinemas in Bangkok, the epicentre of the latest wave of infections, as Thailand reported yet another daily record of 15 virus deaths. South Korea"s economic growth beat expectations in the first quarter, data showed on Tuesday, as global demand surged and the government maintained support for ailing small businesses. The won traded 0.1% firmer, while the country"s shares were down 0.3%. "With growth surging, talk of earlier Bank of Korea tightening will inevitably pick up, and this could provide some further support to the Korean won which appreciated today on the GDP data," Robert Carnell, regional head of research, Asia-Pacific from ING Economics wrote in a note. Investors will likely stay away from making big bets ahead of the Fed"s meeting later this week, where Chair Jerome Powell"s is likely to shed light on whether improving economic conditions warrant a tapering of monetary easing. Equities in Singapore stood firm at 0.2% a day after the city-state reported higher-than-expected manufacturing output for March. Malaysian shares were an outlier with relatively larger losses, falling 0.8%, as stocks of palm oil producers and large glove makers slipped. The nation recorded 2,776 new COVID-19 cases with 13 deaths on April 26. Highlights ** Top loser on the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index was Hartalega Holdings Bhd, down 3.40% ** General Engineering PCL was up 29.27% and the top gainer on Thailand"s SETI ** The biggest gainers in the NSE index were Hindalco Industries Ltd and Reliance Industries Ltd Asia stock indexes and currencies at 0452 GMT COUNTRY FX RIC FX FX INDEX STOCKS STOCK DAILY YTD % DAILY S YTD % % % Japan -0.16 -4.63 -0.3 5.9 China +0.01 +0.66 -0.54 -1.46 India +0.15 -2.06 0.57 4.19 Indonesia -0.09 -3.13 -0.01 -0.25 Malaysia +0.02 -1.83 -0.83 -1.06 Philippines -0.17 -0.83 -0.30 -10.7 8 S.Korea +0.13 -2.30 -0.30 11.63 Singapore -0.09 -0.41 0.15 12.87 Taiwan +0.31 +2.19 -0.06 19.20 Thailand +0.22 -4.40 0.29 7.91 (Reporting by Harish Sridharan in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)