01:32 PM EDT, 07/09/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were lower Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index decreasing 0.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) down 0.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was posting a 0.4% decline, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index was adding 0.9%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was falling 0.4% to $82.02 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was dropping 0.5% to $85.30 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 1.1% higher at $2.39 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Unitil ( UTL ) shares rose 1.6% after the company said Tuesday it has agreed to buy Bangor Natural Gas from Hope Utilities' PHC Utilities unit for $70.9 million on a debt-free basis.