* Microsoft, Honeywell results top estimates
* September existing home sales data on tap
* Futures up: Dow 24 pts, S&P500 3.9 pts, Nasdaq 13.75 pts
(Adds Microsoft results, quote)
By Chuck Mikolajczak
NEW YORK, Oct 23 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Friday after Microsoft Corp's quarterly earnings topped expectations and ahead of data expected to show monthly improvement in the housing market.
Microsoft's shares surged 10.4 percent to $29.36 after the company reported better-than-expected results, citing strong consumer demand for its flagship operating system, a day after the closely watched launch of its Windows 7 operating software.
"They came in with expectation set they were going to be a little soft this quarter in front of the Windows 7 release," said Bennett Gaeger, managing director of listed equity trading, Stifel Nicolaus Capital Markets in Baltimore.
"The fact they came out and exceeded both the top and bottom line has fueled this move higher."
Honeywell International Inc advanced 1.2 percent to $39 in premarket trade after the diversified manufacturer's quarterly profit topped expectations.
S&P 500 futures rose 3.5 points and were above fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures added 24 points, and Nasdaq futures gained 13.75 points.
Sales of previously owned homes likely rebounded in September after a surprise fall in August, boosted by a government incentive for first-time buyers, low prices and attractive mortgage rates.
A Reuters survey of 65 economists indicated existing home sales at 5.35 million units in September at a seasonally adjusted annual rate. That would be up from 5.10 million in August. The data is due at 10 a.m. EDT 1400 GMT.
Whirlpool Corp climbed 4.7 percent to $77 after the appliance maker posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit as cost cuts countered weak sales, and boosted its full-year forecast.
Schlumberger Ltd added 0.6 percent to $69 in light trading Friday after the oilfield services leader reported third-quarter earnings that beat estimates by 2 cents a share.
After the closing bell on Thursday, online retailer Amazon.com Inc posted earnings above Wall Street's forecast, and its shares shot up 17.3 percent to $109.70 premarket.