03:36 PM EST, 03/06/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were rising late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 0.3%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index fell 0.9%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index dropped 1.9%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.2% to $66.43 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract advanced 0.4% to $69.65 a barrel.

US natural gas stocks fell by 80 billion cubic feet in the week ended Feb. 28, a smaller drop than the 94 billion decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following a decrease of 261 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 3.5% to $4.29 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Venture Global ( VG ) said Thursday afternoon it's planning an $18 billion investment to expand its Plaquemines LNG facility south of New Orleans, Louisiana. Separately, the company reported Thursday a decline in Q4 revenue, while earnings missed analysts' expectations. Venture Global ( VG ) shares were falling 35%.