S&P 500 stocks index futures edged lower on Thursday after new U.S. claims for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly last week, climbing above 400,000 for the first time in a month.

* S&P 500 futures fell 2.9 points and were just below fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures rose 3 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures added 6 points.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)