BUZZ-UK homebuilding fundamentals softening - Barclays

** UK house building fundamentals hit by weak consumer confidence, the Brexit debate, November's rate hike and sluggish second-hand market, Barclays (LSE: BARC.L - news) says

** The Letwin Review, which is examining how land is being used for housing, has cast a pall over the sector - Barclays

** The brokerage cuts PT on Barratt Developments (Frankfurt: 859551 - news) , Bellway (Frankfurt: 869646 - news) , Bovis Homes (Frankfurt: 911164 - news) , Crest Nicholson (Frankfurt: A1KCZN - news) , Galliford Try (Stuttgart: 0GF.SG - news) , McCarthy & Stone (Frankfurt: MCM.F - news) , Persimmon , Redrow (LSE: RDW.L - news) and Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW.L - news)

** Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) in the sector are down 1 to 2.5 pct

** Barclays, however, raises PT and rating on Countryside Properties (+1.5%), citing increase in valuation of the co's partnerships division

** But it's still a good time to be a house builder, it says, citing govt's Help To Buy scheme, low mortgage rates and lenders that are open for business