Aug 29 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures extended

gains on Thursday as a better-than-expected GDP reading for the

second quarter calmed fears of an imminent slowdown in the

American economy.

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 3% in the last quarter,

a Commerce Department report showed in its second estimate,

better than expectations of a 2.8% growth.

Separately, a Labor Department report showed initial claims

for unemployment benefits for the week ending Aug. 24 stood at

231,000, marginally lower than estimates of 232,000 as per

economists polled by Reuters.

At 08:33 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were up 289 points,

or 0.7%, Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 81.75 points, or

0.42%, and S&P 500 E-minis were up 21 points, or 0.37%.