01:25 PM EDT, 03/14/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index adding 2.5% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) rising 2.6%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index climbed 3.2%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was up 1.2%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 1.1% to $67.25 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 1% to $70.59 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures added 0.6% to $4.14 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Eni's (E) Plenitude is under investigation by the Italian Competition Authority over "a suspected unfair commercial practice," the regulator said Friday. Eni shares were rising 1.2%.