STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Taylor Wimpey news buoys housebuilders

Gains by UK housebuilders add strength to the FTSE 250 .FTMC index with the sector buoyed by an upbeat trading statement from Taylor Wimpey (TW.L), shares in which take on 6.8 percent to top the mid cap gainers board.

Britain's second largest housebuilder by market value says it is fully sold for 2009 after reporting an encouraging trading performance since July.

Taylor Wimpey says market conditions have improved as it reports lower debt and a rise in house prices.

Housebuilders occupy five of the top 10 gainers slots on the FTSE 250 gainers board, with Berkeley Group (BKGH.L), Bellway (BWY.L), Persimmon (PSN.L) and Barratt Developments (BDEV.L), up between 4.3 and 5.9 percent.

Barratt is also supported by news its recent rights issue received valid acceptances totalling around 92.3 percent of the total number of new shares on offer.

"Any bit of good news is a boost for such a beaten-down sector," says one London-based trader.

For more Taylor Wimpey's update, double click on [ID:nL3588557]

Reuters Messaging rm://jon.hopkins.reuters.com@reuters.net