01:42 PM EST, 11/13/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were rising Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.6% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 1.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was adding 0.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was shedding 0.5%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 0.6% to $68.55 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 0.7% to $72.36 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures gained 2.3% to $2.97 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Coterra Energy ( CTRA ) shares popped 2.2% after the company said Wednesday it has signed two separate agreements to buy certain assets of Franklin Mountain Energy and Avant Natural Resources for $3.95 billion.

Enlight Renewable Energy ( ENLT ) shares rose 4.4%. The company reported Q3 diluted earnings Wednesday of $0.12 per share, down from $0.13 a year earlier. Two analysts polled by Capital IQ expected $0.01.

Shell's (SHEL) Singapore refinery is on track to complete its sale to a joint venture between Indonesia's Chandra Asri and Switzerland's Glencore by Q1, Reuters reported. Shell added 0.1%.