AFR.L Share News (AFR)

Driver Group is leading the constructions and materials sector lower after the provider of dispute resolution services to the construction industry said trading in the second half has been 'very challenging.'In the UK, Driver was particularly disappointed with the north, where an expected upturn did not materialise after summer. In the Middle East, certain new contracts in Oman have been further delayed, it added.Elsewhere in the sector, urban regeneration and strategic land specialist M J Gleeson fell for the second day in a row after saying yesterday that full year pre-tax losses deepened as market conditions in the housebuilding sector continued to deteriorate.Oil stocks are looking a bit more cheery. Crude prices rallied as traders took advantage of this week's decline to buy contracts. BP and Shell are among the risers.But, Africa-focused oil explorer Afren is lower after posting wider losses.Top performing sectors so far todayTechnology Hardware & Equipment 316.45 +1.11%Equity Investment Instruments 4,868.50 +0.95%Oil & Gas Producers 7,720.86 +0.78%Electricity 6,575.31 +0.77%Mobile Telecommunications 3,269.48 +0.61%Bottom performing sectors so far todayOil Equipment Services & Distribution 15,082.53 -1.05%Real Estate 2,009.06 -0.84%General Retailers 1,614.89 -0.82%Banks 5,109.60 -0.79%Construction & Materials 3,683.75 -0.76%