03:18 PM EDT, 08/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.3% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.9%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was posting a 1.1% increase, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was up 0.5%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil climbed 3.4% to $77.37 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract advanced 3% to $81.41 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures dropped 3.3% to $1.96 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Shell (SHEL) is planning a three- to four-day shut-in of portions of its Zydeco pipeline system for maintenance starting Sept. 24, Reuters reported Monday. Shell shares were 0.8% higher in recent trading.