03:26 PM EST, 02/07/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks rose late Friday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.4% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) increasing 0.3%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was little changed, erasing earlier gains, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index dropped 0.4%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.5% to $70.95 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent crude advanced 0.5% to $74.64 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 3.1% to $3.30 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Ameren ( AEE ) shares added 0.3% after the company boosted its quarterly dividend 6% to $0.71 a share.