(Updates to close of U.S. stock markets)
* U.S. stocks turn lower on Mueller subpoena
* Trump official downplays concerns about a global trade war
* U.S., Euro bond yields lower on global political tensions
By Nick Brown
NEW YORK, March 15 (Reuters) - The S&P 500 edged slightly lower on Thursday, in its first four-day losing streak of 2018, while global political tensions kept demand high for safe-haven government bonds on both sides of the Atlantic.
It was a choppy day overall for stocks, with MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS shedding 0.07 percent.
European indexes closed in the black. The S&P was modestly higher until a late-afternoon report that U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller had subpoenaed documents from the Trump Organization, which President Donald Trump ran with his family before entering the White House. Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 115.54 points, or 0.47 percent, to 24,873.66, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 2.15 points, or 0.08 percent, to 2,747.33, and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 15.07 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,481.74.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 rose 0.53 percent.
Concerns about moves by Trump viewed as protectionist, including his seeking to impose duties of up to $60 billion on Chinese imports, had pressured equities this week, particularly shares of manufacturers. the disclosure of the Mueller subpoena, those concerns showed signs of easing after Peter Navarro, Trump's top adviser on international economic exchanges, said on CNBC that the tariffs would not necessarily provoke a trade war. helped buoy companies like heavy equipment maker Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT) CAT.N , which rose 1.3 percent, while S&P's industrial index rose 0.4 percent.
In Europe, a strong showing by insurance companies like Munich Re MUVGn.DE and Generali GASI.MI , both up more than 2.5 percent, offset political concerns over creeping far-right influence in Italy and growing tensions between Russia and the U.K. U.S. dollar gained against a basket of six other currencies. The dollar index .DXY rose 0.47 percent, with the euro EUR= up 0.01 percent to $1.2305.
But the dollar remained down against the safe-haven Japanese yen, a sign investors remain concerned about political and economic instability.
Bond yields, too, reflected an increased appetite for government assets viewed as less risky.
Many yields in the euro zone fell to their lowest levels since late January, pushed down by both political uncertainty and expectations for a slow exit from the European Central Bank's stimulus.
Germany's 10-year bond yield fell to 0.57 percent, its lowest level in seven weeks. French and Dutch 10-year bond yields also fell to their lowest levels since January. the backdrop that's leading yields to drop, with ... concerns from investors about the U.S. trade war and Trump rebuilding his cabinet, as well as political reports from Italy about populist party negotiation," said ING rates strategist Benjamin Schroeder.
The U.S. Treasury yield curve continued to flatten, with the spread between the 2- and 10-year yields shrinking to 53.40 basis points, a fourth straight day of contraction, reapproaching the decade low hit in January.
The spread between 5- and 30-year yields was down to 43.70 basis points, also approaching decade lows hit in early February.
Benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR last fell 3/32 in price to yield 2.8262 percent, from 2.817 percent late on Wednesday.
The 30-year bond US30YT=RR last /32 in price to yield 3.0576 percent, from 3.058 percent on Thursday.
Oil prices edged higher in choppy trade. U.S. crude CLcv1 rose 0.38 percent to $61.19 per barrel and Brent LCOcv1 was last at $65.05, up 0.25 percent on the day. Italy's League leader opens door to government deal with 5-Star
Incoming Trump economic adviser Kudlow says China "earned" tough trade response
Italy/Germany bond yield gap widens as election worries mount
EXPLAINER-Japan's "sontaku" clouds where the buck stops in school scandal
Trump seeking tariffs on up to $60 bln Chinese goods; targets tech, telecoms
White House trade adviser: tariffs can be applied without provoking trade war
GRAPHIC-Global assets in 2018
http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl GRAPHIC-Emerging markets in 2018
http://tmsnrt.rs/2ihRugV GRAPHIC-World FX rates in 2018
http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh GRAPHIC-MSCI All Country World Index Market Cap
http://tmsnrt.rs/2EmTD6j
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