US STOCKS-Futures tick up ahead of durable goods data

                                
   * G20 to pledge to keep economic supports in place
                                
 * Credit Suisse upgrades Caterpillar to outperform
                                
 * BlackBerry maker's revenue misses view, shares fall
                                
 * Unilever buy Sara Lee's personal care business
                                
 * For up-to-the-minute market news, click [STXNEWS/US]
(Adds quote, byline)
                                
 By Rodrigo Campos
                                
 NEW YORK, Sept 25 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures
edged higher on Friday ahead of key data expected to show a
small gain in new orders for durable goods.
                                
 A pledge from world leaders at the Group of 20 nations
summit to keep emergency economic supports in place until a
robust recovery takes hold helped stem recent fears that
government efforts to support financial markets would end
anytime soon. [ID:nSUM000113].
                                
 The U.S. durable goods data at 8:30 a.m. (1230 GMT) is
expected to show new orders rose 0.5 percent in August after
surging 5.1 percent in July, a poll of 75 economists forecast.
                                
 The final Reuters/University of Michigan reading of
consumer sentiment for September is expected at 9:55 a.m. (1355
GMT). A Reuters poll of economists showed the gauge is expected
to rise to 70.3 from a reading of 65.7 in August.
                                
 U.S. new home sales data is due at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT).
Economists look for sales increasing to an annual rate of
440,000 units in August from 433,000 in July, which was the
highest in 10 months.
                                
 Following two days of losses, and with the U.S. dollar
<.DXY> edging lower and crude oil prices <CLc1> ticking up, the
stock market is set to move higher if economic data comes in
better than expected, according to Peter Cardillo, chief market
economist at Avalon Partners in New York.
                                
 S&P 500 futures <SPc1> rose 3.1 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 <DJc1> gained 26
points and Nasdaq 100 futures <NDc1> added 1.5 points.
                                
 Shares of Research In Motion Ltd <RIMM.O><RIM.TO> fell more
than 11 percent in premarket trading after the BlackBerry maker
reported second-quarter revenue on Thursday that missed
estimates and gave a disappointing outlook. [ID:nN24466680]
                                
 Caterpillar Inc <CAT.N> edged up before the bell after
Credit Suisse upgraded the shares to "outperform" and raised
its price target to $63 from $40, citing Caterpillar'
opportunity to make structural changes to its cost base. The
heavy machinery maker was the top drag on the Dow on Thursday.
                                
 Unilever NV <UNc.AS><UN.N> agreed to pay $1.87 billion for
Sara Lee Corp's <SLE.N> personal care brands. Sara Lee said it
is still looking to sell the rest of its household goods
business and will launch a $1 billion share buyback program.
[ID:nLP419835].
                                
 The G20 rich and developing countries, holding a two-day
summit in Pittsburgh, will aim to implement new rules by the
end of 2012 to improve bank capital and discourage excessive
leverage. [ID:nLP422374].
                                
 The world's central banks said Thursday they would scale
back infusions of U.S. dollars into their banking systems.
                                
 U.S. stocks fell on Thursday on weak housing data and
investor worries that the officials may curb economic stimulus
efforts too soon.
 (Editing by Padraic Cassidy) ((rodrigo.campos@thomsonreuters.com; + 1 646-223-6344; Reuters
Messaging: rodrigo.campos.reuters.com@reuters.net))