01:26 PM EST, 02/27/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.7% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) climbing 1.5%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index rose 1.1%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index was falling 1.4%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 2.2% to $70.10 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 1.9% to $73.94 a barrel.

US natural gas stocks fell by 261 billion cubic feet in the week ended Feb. 21, compared with a larger decrease of 271 billion expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following a decrease of 196 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 3.8% to $3.97 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Eni (E) shares were falling 1.6% after it reported Q4 earnings and revenue that came in below analysts' estimates.