01:28 PM EDT, 05/03/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were mixed Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index fractionally higher and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) down 0.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was adding 0.4%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was rising 0.2%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was declining 0.7% to $78.40 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was dropping 0.6% to $83.17 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures jumped 5.1% to $2.14 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) said Friday it has closed its acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources ( PXD ). The acquisition more than doubles Exxon's Permian production volume to 1.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, which is expected to increase to about 2 million in 2027, the company said. Exxon shares were shedding 0.4%.