03:16 PM EDT, 08/09/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were rising late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index increasing 0.4% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.3%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was easing 0.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was up 0.2%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.8% to $76.81 per barrel, while global benchmark Brent advanced 0.5% to $79.55 per barrel. Henry Hub natural-gas futures were 1.5% higher at $2.16 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Northwest Natural ( NWN ) shares were shedding 0.4% as it said Friday it appointed Raymond Kaszuba as its chief financial officer, effective Aug. 31.