04:05 PM EST, 11/06/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks rose late Thursday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index gaining 0.6% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 1.3%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index increased 0.6%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 0.4%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil eased 0.1% to $59.57 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent was little changed at $63.54 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 4.2% to $4.41 per 1 million BTU.

In sector news, US natural gas stocks rose by 33 billion cubic feet in the week ended Friday, above the 31 billion increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following the gain of 74 billion in the previous week.

In corporate news, Public Service Enterprise ( PEG ) shares climbed 3.1% after Jefferies upgraded the stock to buy from hold, and increased its price target to $90 from $89.

Cenovus Energy's ( CVE ) offer to buy MEG Energy won approval MEG from shareholders, BNN Bloomberg reported. MEG Chairman James McFarland said 86% of the shareholders voted in favor of the deal, above the two-thirds majority needed for the deal to proceed, the report said. Cenovus shares rose 1.6%.

Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) signed a farm-in agreement with Energean and Helleniq Energy Upstream for its participation in the Block 2 concession offshore Greece, with Exxon acquiring a 60% stake in the concession, Energean said. Exxon shares rose 1%.

MDU Resources ( MDU ) shares popped 5.1% after the company's Q3 operating revenue beat analyst estimates.