01:26 PM EDT, 08/23/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) each rising about 1.6%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index climbed 3.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was adding 0.3%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 2.6% to $74.89 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 2.4% to $79.10 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 1.2% to $2.03 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Halliburton ( HAL ) confirmed Friday in a regulatory filing that an unauthorized third party had gained access to certain of its systems. Its shares were rising 2.3%.