11:34 AM EST, 11/29/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Friday late morning, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index adding 0.4% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.3%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was posting a 0.8% increase, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was up 0.1%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 1.2% to $69.55 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was adding 0.2% to $73.40 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures gained 3% to $3.30 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, TotalEnergies (TTE) is planning a $750 million gas project in Nigeria next year, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing Senior Vice President Africa Mike Sangster. Its shares rose 1.3%.