U.S. stocks open with slight gains after data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened modestly higher on Thursday as a better-than-expected report on weekly initial jobless claims boosted confidence the economy was improving, although caution remained ahead of Friday's employment report. The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 58.66 points, or 0.38 percent, at 15,498.89. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 5.36 points, or 0.31 percent, at 1,757.00. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 17.01 points, or 0.42 percent, at 4,028.56. (Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica; Editing by Nick Zieminski)