BUZZ-Ibstock: pricing power

** Clay bricks and concrete products manufacturer Ibstock (Frankfurt: 29883241.F - news) top of FTSE 250 in volume

** Berenberg initiates with 'Buy' recommendation

** Broker positive on outlook for UK new-build residential construction as a result of continued government support on demand & supply side

** Pricing power: Berenberg flags UK brick market consolidated with 3 players sharing >90% of market while high barriers to entry mean unlikely new players will enter market

** Broker says imports should continue to drop

** Berenberg says imports historically 7% of sales, but 90% came from Benelux region, with majority supplied by Wienerberger (IOB: 0MKZ.IL - news) , one of UK brick troika & broker deems it unlikely Wienerberger will seek to destroy own domestic position in UK

** Other import deterrents include a weaker GBP and the prospect of new, more efficient domestic production capacity, broker says

** Fourth most actively traded UK midcap on Friday

(RM (LSE: RM.L - news) : tricia.wright1.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)