01:34 PM EDT, 04/29/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.5% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.6%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index added 0.2% and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was rising 1.5%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was declining 1.2% to $82.88 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was dropping 1% to $88.59 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures jumped 5.5% to $2.03 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Altus Power ( AMPS ) Co-Chief Executive Lars Norell stepped down on Friday, with co-founder Gregg Felton continuing as sole CEO at the company and assuming all of Norell's former responsibilities, the company said Monday. Its shares rose about 2%.