03:19 PM EST, 12/23/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher late Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index adding 0.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was rising 0.7%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was fractionally lower.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was marginally higher at $69.47 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was down 0.1% to $72.85 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 2.4% to $3.66 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, TPG's (TPG) climate investment arm is in talks to buy Altus Power ( AMPS ) , Reuters reported. Altus shares jumped 11% and TPG was down 1.7%.