03:22 PM EDT, 10/21/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were mixed late Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) fractionally higher.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was posting a 0.5% increase, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was shedding 0.3%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 2% to $70.59 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 1.6% to $74.24 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 3.2% higher at $2.33 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, GSE Systems ( GVP ) shares jumped 6.2% after it said Monday a Pelican Energy Partners affiliate has agreed to increase the merger price to buy GSE shares for $4.60 per share from the previously agreed $4.10.