01:26 PM EST, 12/10/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) each adding 0.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index climbed 1.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was down 1%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 0.6% to $68.80 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 0.4% to $72.46 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were falling 1.1% to $3.15 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, ProPetro ( PUMP ) shares surged 18% after it announced Tuesday its new ProPetro Energy Solutions unit that will do business as ProPWR with about $122 million growth capital investment.