Stocks pare gains as data enthusiasm fades

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks pared early gains on Thursday, with the Nasdaq falling into negative territory as initial enthusiasm over solid U.S. economic data gave way to euro zone debt worries.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 44.35 points, or 0.38 percent, to 11,867.83. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 3.97 points, or 0.33 percent, to 1,215.79. The Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 0.37 points, or 0.01 percent, to 2,538.94.

(Reporting By Chuck Mikolajczak; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)