03:19 PM EST, 01/30/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index adding 1% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.7%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index increased 0.8%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index climbed 2.2%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.3% to $72.81 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 0.5% to $76.95 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 3.6% to $3.06 per 1 million BTU.

In sector news, US natural gas stocks fell by 321 billion cubic feet in the week ended Jan. 24, a larger drop than the 314 billion decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following a decrease of 223 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

In corporate news, Liberty Energy (LBRT) shares fell nearly 7%. The company reported Q4 adjusted earnings late Wednesday of $0.10 per diluted share, down from $0.54 a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected $0.11.