03:25 PM EST, 02/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were mixed late Monday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index fractionally lower and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) increasing 0.2%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index rose 0.7%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index fell 0.6%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.4% to $70.67 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent advanced 0.4% to $74.73 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures slumped 5.6% to $4 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Energy Vault ( NRGV ) said Monday it has started construction of an energy storage system at the ACEN Australia New England solar project near Uralla in the Australian state of New South Wales. Its shares were falling 3.8%.