03:24 PM EST, 01/16/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.4% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 0.7%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was shedding 0.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index climbed 2.2%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil declined 1.7% to $78.72 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was down 0.9% at $81.31 a barrel.

US natural gas stocks fell by 258 billion cubic feet in the week ended Jan. 10, slightly below the 259 billion decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following a decrease of 40 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

Henry Hub natural gas futures jumped 5.9% to $4.32 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Flowco ( FLOC ) shares debuted on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday with an opening price of $29.02, above the IPO price of $24. The shares were rising 21% in recent trading.