03:28 PM EDT, 04/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks fell late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) each shedding 0.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index rose 0.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index gained 0.4%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil added 0.1% to $82.77 per barrel, while global benchmark Brent contract slid 0.2% to $87.14 per barrel.

US natural-gas stocks rose by 50 billion cubic feet in the week ended April 12, below the 51 billion increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:45 am ET and following an increase of 24 billion cubic in the previous week.

Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 1.3% to $1.73 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Centuri ( CTRI ) shares jumped 11% in their trading debut on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday after the Southwest Gas ( SWX ) subsidiary priced its initial public offering at the top of its marketed range. Southwest Gas ( SWX ) shares were down 0.2%.