* Gold prices tumble while crude oil gains
* Humana raises full-year profit view, stock edges higher
* Loews profit misses estimates, Allstate posts steep loss
* Futures up: Dow 153 pts, S&P 15.4 pts, Nasdaq 27.5 pts
* For up-to-the-minute market news see [STXNEWS/US] (Adds analyst comment, earnings details)
By Ryan Vlastelica
NEW YORK, Aug 1 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures surged more than 1 percent on Monday on relief over a deal in Washington to raise the debt ceiling, avoiding an unprecedented default.
Lawmakers were expected to vote on Monday on the White House-backed agreement, which includes budget cuts of $2.4 trillion. The deal was seen passing the Democratic-led Senate, but it faces tougher opposition in the U.S. House of Representatives, where both conservative Tea Party supporters and liberal lawmakers have criticized it. For details, see [ID:nN1E76U0F5]
Even though a default was considered unlikely by many investors, equities grew increasingly volatile as Washington was stalemated. Wall Street ended its worst week in a year last week.
"While no one could imagine there being no compromise passed, no one could also imagine it taking this long to get one. So there's justification for the rally because it takes that anxiety away," said Oliver Pursche, president at Gary Goldberg Financial Services in Suffern, New York.
Gold
Even with a deal, many investors remained concerned about a possible downgrade of the United States' AAA sovereign debt rating, as well as continued issues over European debt. Some analysts said Monday's rally in futures could be short-lived. The FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3> index of top shares was up 0.6 percent. [ID:nL6E7J10BR]
"Based on the comments Standard & Poor's has made so far, they've backed themselves into a corner, making it very likely that we could see a downgrade," Pursche said. "However, since that is partially priced in and rating agencies don't have as much credibility as they used to, I don't know how big of a material impact it will have."
S&P 500 futures
In earnings news, Allstate Corp
Separately, Humana Inc
Economic indicators on tap include June construction spending, which is seen as unchanged, and July ISM manufacturing data. ISM is seen coming in at 54.9, down from a read of 55.3 in June. July's non-farm payroll number, due Friday, will also be a focus for investors.
HSBC Holding Plc
Stocks fell for five straight days last week, with the S&P down 3.9 percent over the period on the political logjam in Washington over the debt ceiling. (Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)