03:14 PM EST, 12/20/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were rising late Friday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) each up 0.9%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index increased 0.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index gained 1.5%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.2% to $69.50 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent advanced 0.1% to $72.93 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures jumped 3.8% to $3.72 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Northern Oil and Gas ( NOG ) has made at least two acquisition offers for Granite Ridge Resources (GRNT), Reuters reported. Northern Oil shares were falling 1% and Granite jumped past 9%.