03:31 PM EDT, 05/14/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were easing late Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.1% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) fractionally lower.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was up 0.6%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was adding 0.1%

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 1.3% to $78.06 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent fell 1.1% to $82.41 a barrel. Henry Hub natural-gas futures were 1.3% lower at $2.35 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Kinder Morgan ( KMI ) shares were up 1.3% as Ameriprise started coverage of the company with a buy rating.