03:16 PM EST, 12/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks fell in late Thursday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.3% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) shedding 0.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index eased 0.2%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index retreated 0.3%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil declined 0.8% to $69.57 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent shed 0.5% to $73.19 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures tumbled 6.3% to $3.70 per 1 million BTU.

In sector news, New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday signed a bill into law that will require fossil fuel companies to contribute financially to infrastructure investments to protect against climate change.

In corporate news, Berry (BRY) closed a debt refinancing, securing a $450 million term loan and a revolving credit agreement of up to $500 million. The shares fell 1.1%.