BUZZ-Dividend seekers look beyond bluechips after oil price plunge

** UK-focused buyside on the hunt for niche companies that have pricing power, are strong cash generators and are getting an additional lift from the plunge in oil

** Income funds, in particular, are looking past divi stalwarts where payouts are vulnerable or stocks overvalued

** Howden Joinery, which corners the market in selling kitchens in UK, stands to reap full benefits of boost to wallets from oil (& consequent falling inflation), healthier economy & pick-up in wages

** Highly cash generative co - growing both sales & profits - has potential to supplement divi, through special divi or share buybacks (1-yr fwd divi yield 1.9 pct, Thomson Reuters data shows)

** Richard Watts, who runs Old Mutual Global Investors' UK Mid Cap Fund, sees scope for it to yield over 5 pct; Watts' fund is 5th-top fund shareholder with 1.34 pct, TR data shows

** Travel cos obvious oil-price winners, but Carnival , as the world's largest cruise operator, has edge vs peers who may struggle to get new ships built in time to keep up with demand pick-up

** BlackRock (NYSE: BLK - news) 's UK Income Fund holds both Carnival & Howden (RM (LSE: RM.L - news) : tricia.wright1.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)