* Fed's Yellen: "appropriate" for rate hike later in 2015
* Euro off before Greek parliament vote on latest bailout
* Safety bids for U.S., German bonds emerge before Greek vote
* Oil prices fall on concerns about rising Iranian exports (Updates market action, adds quote)
By Richard Leong
NEW YORK, July 15 (Reuters) - U.S. stock prices held steady on Wednesday as Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen affirmed a likely interest rate increase by year-end, while the euro fell ahead of a Greek government vote on whether to accept tough terms for a vital third bailout.
Oil prices fell on worries of growing supply from Iran following a landmark deal that would lift sanctions that have curbed its oil sales for several years. ID:nL4N0ZV25H
"If the economy evolves as we expect, economic conditions likely would make it appropriate at some point this year to raise the federal funds rate," Yellen said in a testimony prepared for a U.S. House panel. ID:nN9N0ZU000
While a Fed "lift-off" raises domestic borrowing costs, the expected slow pace of rate normalization shouldn't cut much into economic growth and corporate profits, analysts said.
"Stocks are taking to heart that it's a going to be a kinder and gentler Fed," said Charles Retzky, director of futures sales at Mizuho Securities USA in Chicago.
In midday trading, the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI rose 4.41 points, or 0.02 percent, to 18,057.99, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 1.04 points, or 0.05 percent, to 2,109.99 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 5.83 points, or 0.11 percent, to 5,110.72.
The dollar strengthened against a basket of currencies, with the dollar index last up 0.5 percent at 97.07 .DXY .
As traders monitored fresh clues on the timing of a Fed rate increase, they awaited news on whether Greece's parliament will approve a third bailout to avert bankruptcy and a possible exit from the euro zone currency bloc.
The euro was down 0.3 percent against the dollar at $1.09695 EUR=EBS and was flat at 135.825 yen EURJPY=EBS .
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 provisionally closed up 0.4 percent at 1,586.50, rising five days in a row.
Uncertainties over the Greek vote outcome spurred safe haven bids for German and U.S. bonds. Yields on 10-year German Bunds DE10YT=TWEB fell 9 basis points to 0.76 percent, while U.S. 10-year Treasuries yields US10YT=RR declined 3 basis points to 2.367 percent. US/ GVD/EUR
Steady to higher U.S. and European equity prices offset the drop in some Asian and emerging market stocks despite better-than-expected Chinese economic data. ID:nL5N0ZV0OF
In the oil market, Brent crude LCOc1 was down $1.01 or 1.7 percent at $57.50 a barrel, while U.S. oil futures CLc1 were down $1.23 or 2.3 percent at $51.81. ID:nL4N0ZV25H
Spot gold prices XAU= were down 0.6 percent at $1,147.66 an ounce. ID:nL4N0ZV308