03:18 PM EDT, 03/15/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were rising late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.1% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 0.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was increasing 0.7% and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was fractionally higher.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was shedding 0.4% to $80.94 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was 0.2% lower at $85.24 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures slumped 4.5% to $1.66 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Duke Energy ( DUK ) said Friday it has promoted Harry Sideris as president of the company, starting April 1. Duke shares were decreasing 0.3%.