01:25 PM EDT, 04/22/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.7% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.6% recently.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was posting a 0.4% increase and the Dow Jones US Utilities index added 0.6%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 0.1% to $82.12 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was down 0.2% to $87.10 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures climbed 3.4% to $2.05 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Chesapeake Utilities ( CPK ) said Monday that the Delaware Public Service Commission has approved the implementation of three natural gas energy efficiency programs in Delaware. Chesapeake shares added 0.1% in recent trading.