04:02 PM EDT, 08/28/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks rose late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index gaining 0.7% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 0.5%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index increased 0.6%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index shed 0.6%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.2% to $64.25 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent crude contract added 0.3% to $67.63 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures gained 2.3% to $2.95 per 1 million BTU.

US natural gas stocks rose by 18 billion cubic feet in the week ended Friday, below the 26 billion gain expected in a Bloomberg survey and following a rise of 13 billion in the previous week.

In corporate news, Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) said in its latest global energy outlook report that the world is "not on track" to meet global emission targets by 2050. Exxon shares were up 0.5%.

PowerBank ( SUUN ) said its 3.16 MW solar project in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, has secured site control, allowing it to proceed to the interconnection study phase. Its shares eased 0.2%.

Phillips 66 (PSX) will begin winding down operations at its Los Angeles-area refinery in September as part of a planned permanent closure, Reuters reported. Phillips 66 gained 0.4%.

Prairie Operating ( PROP ) shares gained 2% after the firm said it has completed two bolt-on acquisitions, further strengthening its oil-weighted asset base.