03:17 PM EST, 03/05/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index gaining 0.5% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 0.6%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was fractionally higher, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index eased 0.3%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil declined 0.6% to $78.24 per barrel, while global benchmark Brent fell 0.9% to $82.10 per barrel. Henry Hub natural-gas futures jumped 2.4% to $1.96 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Aemetis ( AMTX ) said Tuesday it has secured air permits for its sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel production plant in Riverbank, California. Its shares were falling past 4%.