TOKYO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond yields dropped to three-year lows on Thursday, as fears of a global recession gripped the broader markets following an inversion of the U.S. Treasury yield curve.

The benchmark 10-year JGB yield JP10YTN=JBTC touched 0.245%, its lowest since late July 2016. The yield was last 1.5 basis points lower at minus 0.240%.

The 20-year yield JP20YTN=JBTC brushed 0.050% and the 30-year yield JP30YTN=JBTC plumbed 0.145%, both lows not seen since July 2016.

JGB prices were boosted and their yields fell as risk aversion gripped the markets after the U.S. Treasury two-year/10-year yield curve inverted for the first time in 12 years in a phenomenon widely regarded as a recession signal.

Thursday's 1.9 trillion yen ($17.94 billion) five-year JGB auction attracted ample investor interest thanks to strong demand for safe havens.

The auction bid-to-cover ratio, a gauge of demand, rose to 4.68 from 4.34 at the previous sale last month.

($1 = 105.8900 yen)

(Reporting by the Tokyo markets team; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)

((shinichi.saoshiro@thomsonreuters.com; +813-6441-1774))

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.