US STOCKS-Futures point to higher open on IBM, housing data

* IBM rallies on strong new services business

* Goldman falls after results, weighing on BofA

* Housing starts touch six-month high

* Futures up: Dow 76 pts, S&P 6.8 pts, Nasdaq 22.5 pts

* For up-to-the-minute market news see [STXNEWS/US] (Updates prices, adds housing starts data)

By Ryan Vlastelica

NEW YORK, July 19 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Tuesday after a strong quarterly report from IBM and a surge in housing starts, sparking investor optimism a day after a selloff.

Bank stocks were also in focus after Goldman Sachs Group Inc fell following its results, weighing on Bank of America , which also issued its quarterly report.

Dow component International Business Machines Corp added 1.7 percent to $178.30 a day after it said new business at its services division was up more than expected, raising hopes for the technology sector this year. For details, see [ID:nN1E76H1DO]

Housing starts topped forecasts in June to touch a six-month high, and permits for future construction unexpectedly increased, the government reported, likely reflecting growing demand for rental apartments. [ID:nLDE76I14Y]

"The broad feeling in markets today seems to be one of relief," said Andrew Wilkinson, senior market analyst at Interactive Brokers Group in Greenwich, Connecticut.

"There's a sense that corporations are growing at a healthy clip, the housing starts was very encouraging, and that's allowing us to be unfazed by Goldman."

S&P 500 futures rose 6.8 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 76 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 22.5 points.

Goldman's second-quarter net income rose but fell short of lowered expectations as fixed income trading revenue dropped sharply. Bank of America posted a second-quarter net loss of $8.8 billion after a big settlement with mortgage bond investors. [ID:nLDE76I122] and [ID:nN1E76H0D0]

Goldman fell 3.3 percent to $125.10 before the bell, while Bank of America edged 0.6 percent lower to $9.66.

Coca-Cola Co reported slightly better-than-expected profit on strength in emerging markets. Johnson & Johnson posted better-than-expected earnings on a turnaround in its prescription medicines business and stabilizing sales of over-the-counter medicines. [ID:nN1E76I03V] and [ID:nN1E76I03I]

Coke rose 0.4 percent to $67.40, while J&J was 0.3 percent higher at $67.31. Both stocks are Dow components.

The latest reports followed strong results from JPMorgan Chase & Co and Google Inc last week, though the reports were largely overshadowed by concerns tied to government debt problems in the United States and Europe that gave the S&P its worst week in five and contributed to a decline on Monday.

Two weeks before a final deadline, U.S. President Barack Obama and top lawmakers faced more pressure for a deal to raise the debt ceiling amid a growing sense that a last-ditch plan taking shape in Congress may be the only way to avoid a U.S. default. [ID:nN1E76H1Y0]

U.S. stocks dropped on Monday as bank shares bore the brunt of investor frustration over governments' inability to solve debt crises in the United States and Europe. (Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)