Mining, Minerals & Metals plc Share News (MMM)

(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 slightlylower on Thursday, in its first four-day losing streak of 2018,while global political tensions kept demand high for safe-havengovernment bonds on both sides of the Atlantic.

It was a choppy day overall for stocks, with MSCI's gauge ofstocks across the globe shedding 0.07 percent.

European indexes closed in the black. The S&P was modestlyhigher until a late-afternoon report that U.S. Special CounselRobert Mueller had subpoenaed documents from the TrumpOrganization, which President Donald Trump ran with his familybefore entering the White House.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 115.54 points,or 0.47 percent, to 24,873.66, the S&P 500 lost 2.15points, or 0.08 percent, to 2,747.33, and the Nasdaq Compositedropped 15.07 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,481.74.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.53percent.

Concerns about moves by Trump viewed as protectionist,including his seeking to impose duties of up to $60 billion onChinese imports, had pressured equities this week, particularlyshares of manufacturers.

Before the disclosure of the Mueller subpoena, thoseconcerns showed signs of easing after Peter Navarro, Trump's topadviser on international economic exchanges, said on CNBC thatthe tariffs would not necessarily provoke a trade war.

That helped buoy companies like heavy equipment makerCaterpillar Inc, which rose 1.3 percent, while S&P'sindustrial index rose 0.4 percent.

In Europe, a strong showing by insurance companies likeMunich Re and Generali, both up more than2.5 percent, offset political concerns over creeping far-rightinfluence in Italy and growing tensions between Russia and theU.K..

The U.S. dollar gained against a basket of six othercurrencies. The dollar index rose 0.47 percent, with theeuro up 0.01 percent to $1.2305.

But the dollar remained down against the safe-haven Japaneseyen, a sign investors remain concerned about political andeconomic instability.

Bond yields, too, reflected an increased appetite forgovernment assets viewed as less risky.

Many yields in the euro zone fell to their lowest levelssince late January, pushed down by both political uncertaintyand expectations for a slow exit from the European CentralBank's stimulus.

Germany's 10-year bond yield fell to 0.57 percent, itslowest level in seven weeks. French and Dutch 10-year bondyields also fell to their lowest levels since January.

"It's the backdrop that's leading yields to drop, with ...concerns from investors about the U.S. trade war and Trumprebuilding his cabinet, as well as political reports from Italyabout populist party negotiation," said ING rates strategistBenjamin Schroeder.

The U.S. Treasury yield curve continued to flatten, with thespread between the 2- and 10-year yields shrinking to 53.40basis 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 43.70basis points, also approaching decade lows hit in earlyFebruary.

Benchmark 10-year notes last fell 3/32 in priceto yield 2.8262 percent, from 2.817 percent late on Wednesday.

The 30-year bond last /32 in price to yield3.0576 percent, from 3.058 percent on Thursday.

Oil prices edged higher in choppy trade. U.S. cruderose 0.38 percent to $61.19 per barrel and Brent waslast at $65.05, up 0.25 percent on the day.

(Additional reporting by Fanny Potkin and Kate Duguid; Editingby Nick Zieminski and Leslie Adler)