LONDON, April 25 (Reuters) - Spanish stocks edged higher

and bonds held steady on Thursday a day after Prime Minister

Pedro Sanchez said he would step back from public duties to

reflect on his future

Spain's benchmark IBEX rose 0.2% in the first few

minutes of trading, while Europe's broad STOXX 600. was

flat.

Spain's 10 year government bond yield was flat

at 3.38% and the spread between its yield and that of the 10

year German Bund was steady at 78.7 basis points..