Stocks opened modestly higher on Thursday as anxiety eased over Spain's sovereign debt, though early gains were limited after data showed jobless claims rose unexpectedly.

* The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> added 14.77 points, or 0.14 percent, to 10,424.23. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> edged up 2.14 points, or 0.19 percent, at 1,116.75. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 9.56 points, or 0.41 percent, to 2,315.49.

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)