01:28 PM EST, 01/10/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.4% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) rising 0.6%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was adding 0.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was shedding 0.2%.

In sector news, the US plans to sanction 180 tankers, oil traders, two oil companies, and oil executives in Russia, Reuters reported, citing a document circulating among traders in Asia and Europe whose veracity the news agency "could not verify."

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil jumped 3.3% to $76.38 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract spiked 3.3% to $79.49 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures surged 7.1% to $3.96 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Constellation Energy ( CEG ) agreed to buy privately held energy company Calpine in a cash-and-stock deal for a net price of $26.6 billion, including debt. Constellation shares soared 25%.