03:19 PM EDT, 03/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were lower late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index shedding 0.8% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) dropping 1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was down 0.9%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index decreased 1.1%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil added 0.4% to $68.36 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract advanced 0.3% to $72.22 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures shed 0.5% to $3.96 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, VivoPower ( VVPR ) shares surged past 39% after its unit Tembo E-LV completed a review of new special purpose acquisition company rules and said its merger with Cactus Acquisition will likely be completed by the end of Q2.