* U.S. Economy Adds 223,00 Jobs in June, Slightly Below Forecasts * U.S. Unemployment Rate Down to 5.3% * U.S. Stock Futures Remain Slightly Higher After Jobs Report; S&P Futures Up 5 Vs 3 Earlier * U.S. Treasury Bonds Rise on U.S. Jobs Report MORE TO COME Earlier: U.S. stock futures rose slightly Thursday ahead of the June jobs report, which is expected to show the U.S. economy strengthening. S&P 500 futures added three points, or 0.2%, to 2074. E-mini Dow futures rose 26 points, or 0.1%, to 17696, and e- mini Nasdaq-100 futures advanced nine points, or 0.2%, to 4431. Changes in stock futures don't always accurately predict moves in the stock market after the opening bell. At 8:30 a.m. EDT, the government's report is expected to show a gain of 233,000 jobs in June, down from 280,000 jobs added in May, according to economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal. If the report comes in as forecast, it would mark the 15th month in the last 16 that jobs growth surpassed 200,000. The unemployment rate is expected to slip to 5.4% from 5.5%. Wage growth will also attract attention. Wednesday's stronger-than-expected reading on employment in the private sector and a reading on manufacturing employment have been viewed as positive signs for the June jobs report, investors said. Federal Reserve officials take a broad array of economic data into consideration as they debate when to raise interest rates, but they focus on inflation and labor-market data. The move is widely expected to happen later this year, and would be the Fed's first rate increase in nearly a decade. Many investors say the first increase in interest rates won't end stock-market gains, as it shows the Fed is confident that economic growth is on track. "In the near term, it won't be a hindrance to U.S.stocks," said Michael Arone, chief investment strategist at State Street Global Advisors. It's an indication "the economy will continue to do well, which typically translates into better earnings for companies," he added. In the longer run, the pace of the rate increases will be more important for stocks, he said. Greece news took a back seat to U.S. economic data Thursday. Readings on jobless claims and factory orders are also due. European stocks swung between slight gains and losses Thursday with few fresh updates on Greece's financial situation. Germany's DAX and France's CAC-40 were nearly flat in recent trade. Chinese shares plunged Thursday, with the Shanghai Composite closing down 3.5% and the smaller Shenzhen market down 5.6%. In commodity markets, gold futures lost 0.8% to $1159.80 an ounce. Crude-oil futures added 0.2% to $57.06 a barrel. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.451% from 2.416% on Wednesday. Yields rise as prices fall.

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