01:31 PM EDT, 09/23/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.4% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.5%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was posting a 0.6% increase, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was adding 0.8%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was declining 1.2% to $70.17 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was dropping 1% to $73.75 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures jumped 6.4% to $2.59 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) was sued by California Attorney General Rob Bonta for allegedly misleading public statements about plastics recycling as a solution to the plastics pollution crisis. Exxon shares were rising 1%.