Lloyds Share News (LLOY)

- Oil stocks track prices lower. - Chinese manufacturing disappoints.- Greek talks ongoing, sides close to a deal.UK stocks finished Friday's session down an average 0.2% with oil stocks providing a drag on the FTSE 100, tracking oil prices lower. The blue chip index swung between gains and losses today but within a narrow range, with just 26 points separating the intraday high and low. The FTSE 100 finished the week at the 5,729 mark, up from last Friday's close of 5,637.Oil prices were on the decline today, pressured by poor Chinese manufacturing data and ongoing concerns in the Eurozone. Also of interest perhaps, US Energy Information Administration data released yesterday which showed that US gasoline consumption fell to 8m barrels a day last week, the lowest level since September 2001 no less. Just before the close on the Intercontinental Exchange, Brent crude for March delivery was 1.38% down at $110.01, while WTI crude for March delivery dropped 2.35% to $98.23.The HSBC/Markit Chinese manufacturing sector purchasing managers' index for the month of January rose slightly, to 48,8, from 48,7 the month before, reaching a three-month high. Nonetheless, it continues to come in below the 50 point mark, thus pointing to a continuing contraction in activity levels within the sector. Talks in Greece are still continuing but there are rumours that the government and private creditors could be close to a deal on agreeing the level of a write-down on the value of Greek debt. News website ekathimerini.com has been quoted as reporting that talks between Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and the head of the Institute of International Finance, Charles Dallara, are still ongoing.In other news, the Global Issues Group of the World Economic Forum - which includes Christine Lagarde (Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund) and Robert Zoellick (World Bank President) - has said in a joint statement: "The world faces significant and urgent challenges that weigh heavily on prospects for future growth." The group said that entering 2012, "we worry about; decelerating global growth and rising uncertainty; high unemployment, especially youth unemployment, with all its negative economic and social consequences; potential resort to inward-looking protectionist policies."OIL STOCKS TUMBLE, VEDANTA RISES ON ZINC RESULTSLeading the decline on the FTSE 100 today were oil producers and oil services stocks, with the falling oil price and some negative broker commentary weighing on the sector. Oil and gas engineer Weir was the worst performer, falling over 6%, closely followed by Petrofac, which suffered a downgrade from JP Morgan Cazenove. BP, BG and Shell were further pressured after Credit Suisse cut earnings per share estimates across the global 'Integrated Oils' sector. The best performer late on was Vedanta Resources, after its Indian subsidiary, Hindustan Zinc, reported record refined lead and silver production in the third quarter. Telecommunications group Vodafone rose on reports that the Indian Supreme Court has overturned an earlier tax-ruling against it from a lower court. The long-running battle centres around a $2.5bn (£1.3bn) tax bill relating to its 67% interest in Vodafone Essar, the Indian mobile unit of Hutchison Whampoa in which Vodafone invested over $11bn in 2007. Another stock dealing with Indian tax issues is Essar Energy which rose over 2%. The stock took a tumble on Tuesday after its oil division was notified that it is no longer eligible to benefit from a deferred tax-payment scheme. Shares in RBS rose on news the part-nationalised lender, which is 84% owned by taxpayers, last month borrowed emergency funds offered by the European Central Bank through its long-term refinancing operations (LTRO). It means that the lender can avoid the need to sell-off assets to meet heightened short-term obligations. Sector peers Barclays and Lloyds were also in demand. FTSE 250 MOVERS: KENTZ DROPS AFTER CEO CHANGEEngineering and construction group Kentz Corporation was a heavy faller after investors seemed to focus more on a boardroom shake-up than a bullish trading update.The firm said that long-standing Chief Executive Hugh O'Donnell will be replaced by Chief Operating Officer Christian Brown at the start of February. Nevertheless, in a separate statement Kentz said that revenues and profits were "marginally" ahead of consensus expectations in 2011 and that it had secured a record backlog of $2.4bn at the end of the year.BCFTSE 100 - RisersVedanta Resources (VED) 1,146.00p +4.66%ICAP (IAP) 335.70p +4.06%Aviva (AV.) 350.90p +2.60%Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 334.70p +2.35%Standard Life (SL.) 213.70p +2.10%Essar Energy (ESSR) 122.50p +2.08%ITV (ITV) 75.50p +2.03%Capita (CPI) 649.00p +1.88%Capital Shopping Centres Group (CSCG) 330.10p +1.82%Land Securities Group (LAND) 691.00p +1.69%FTSE 100 - FallersWeir Group (WEIR) 1,954.00p -6.01%Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 1,440.00p -4.26%BP (BP.) 467.45p -3.11%International Power (IPR) 319.10p -2.65%Fresnillo (FRES) 1,725.00p -2.43%BG Group (BG.) 1,457.00p -2.21%Shire Plc (SHP) 2,121.00p -2.03%Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,338.00p -1.91%Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 7,055.00p -1.67%Glencore International (GLEN) 423.05p -1.62%FTSE 250 - RisersOcado Group (OCDO) 87.65p +9.43%Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CW.) 17.90p +6.29%Misys (MSY) 310.00p +6.13%SIG (SHI) 105.10p +5.58%Domino Printing Sciences (DNO) 580.00p +5.45%Berendsen (BRSN) 450.00p +4.26%Micro Focus International (MCRO) 455.00p +4.12%Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (MLC) 438.80p +3.86%International Personal Finance (IPF) 194.00p +3.74%Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) 270.50p +3.60%FTSE 250 - FallersSupergroup (SGP) 644.00p -4.66%Kentz Corporation Ltd. (KENZ) 440.00p -4.35%Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 42.00p -4.07%Wood Group (John) (WG.) 658.50p -3.87%Great Portland Estates (GPOR) 359.40p -3.62%Rathbone Brothers (RAT) 1,122.00p -3.28%Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 159.30p -3.22%Kenmare Resources (KMR) 48.00p -3.15%AZ Electronic Materials SA (DI) (AZEM) 285.60p -2.76%Ferrexpo (FXPO) 331.00p -2.65%