03:22 PM EDT, 05/31/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Friday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index adding 1.7% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) climbing 1.9%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index rose 1.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was up 0.9%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 1.1% to $77.09 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent crude decreased 0.3% to $81.62 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 0.7% to $2.59 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, FirstEnergy ( FE ) shares rose 2.5% after saying Friday its electric companies in Ohio would ask state regulators to review base electric rates.