03:28 PM EDT, 03/21/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were rising late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.1% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 0.6%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was increasing 0.7% and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was rising 0.2%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was declining 0.3% to $81 a barrel and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was down 0.3% at $85.71 a barrel.

US natural gas stocks rose by 7 billion cubic feet in the week ended March 15, above the 5 billion increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:45 am ET and following a decrease of 9 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

Henry Hub natural gas futures were 0.5% lower at $1.69 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Eni (E) said Thursday it has received approval from the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for the construction and operations of the HyNet North West CO2 pipeline. Eni shares were shedding 0.4%.