(REUTERS) -- Stock index futures pared gains on Thursday after data showed more people than expected filed for unemployment benefits in the latest week and retail sales rose less than forecast in December.

S&P 500 futures rose 2.8 points and were above fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration of the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures gained 75 points and Nasdaq 100 futures added 10 points.

Futures were earlier lifted after well-received European sovereign debt auctions encouraged investors.

(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

Retail sales Dow jones Retail Unemployment