03:18 PM EDT, 05/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks rose late Friday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) each adding 0.6%.

The Dow Jones US Utilities index gained 1.2%, and the Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index rose 0.4%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.9% to $61.74 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent advanced 0.9% to $64.99 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 2.5% to $3.34 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, President Donald Trump on Friday signed orders that seek to hasten the construction of nuclear power plants and help the US claim an edge in nuclear energy, according to media reports. Shares of Constellation Energy ( CEG ) , Oklo ( OKLO ) , Nuscale Power ( SMR ) , Uranium Energy ( UEC ) , Energy Fuels ( UUUU ) , Centrus Energy ( LEU ) and Nano Nuclear Energy ( NNE ) gained.