* Sarkozy hints at solution to Greek debt crisis
* Reuters/UMich consumer sentiment data on tap
* Research In Motion shares tumble after results
* Futures up: Dow 90 pts, S&P 10.7 pts, Nasdaq 15.75 pts
* For up-to-the-minute market news see [STXNEWS/US] (Updates prices, adds comment, byline)
By Rodrigo Campos
NEW YORK, June 17 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rose sharply on Friday after French President Nicolas Sarkozy hinted at a deal to resolve the Greek debt crisis that has hampered equities and worried investors over a possible credit dry-up.
Sarkozy said "there was no time to lose" on agreeing on a program for Greece, suggesting a deal needed to be reached in July at the latest. For details, see [ID:nLDE75G0ZQ]
"We want to go as quickly as possible without fixing a date," Sarkozy said after meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, adding that the pair had the same position on Greece.
Analysts saw his comments as a balm for spooked investors. "After a couple of volatile sessions earlier this week, the market is taking Sarkozy's words as comfort and that is translating into a rebound this morning," said Andre Bakhos, director of market analytics at Lek Securities in New York.
"With the Greek situation being a key focal point, sensitivities run high and investors are quick to react."
The euro reversed its recent trend to gain more than 0.5 percent against the U.S. dollar, and European equities turned positive for the day after Sarkozy's statement. The FTSEurofirst 300 index <.FTEU3> rose 0.5 percent in morning trade. [ID:nLDE75G0UT]
S&P 500 futures
Economic data on tap includes the Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers preliminary June consumer sentiment index, due at 9:55 a.m. EDT (1355 GMT). Economists in a Reuters survey expect a reading of 74.0 compared with 74.3 in the final May report.
"Economically, on the home front data has been weaker than expected and investors are looking for positive numbers to reverse that trend," Bakhos said. "Until then, there will be hesitancy to go into the market."
Shares of Research In Motion Ltd