01:31 PM EDT, 06/07/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were mixed Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index decreasing 0.3% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.3%.

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

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 0.2% to $75.69 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was down 0.1% to $79.81 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures jumped 4.3% to $2.94 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) shares are projected to underperform peers in the near term given current valuations and the Pioneer Natural Resources integration, Truist said in a note Friday. Truist downgraded Exxon's stock to hold from buy and cut its price target to $124 from $146. Exxon shares were little changed.