01:31 PM EST, 02/14/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.5% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 0.8%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index dropped 1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index eased 0.2%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was declining 0.8% to $70.74 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract shed 0.4% to $74.73 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 2.4% to $3.72 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Diamondback Energy ( FANG ) is in talks to buy Double Eagle in a deal potentially valuing the business at over $5 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported. Diamondback shares were up fractionally.