01:29 PM EDT, 03/25/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.6% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.3%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index increased 0.4%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index dropped 1.6%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was declining 0.4% to $68.87 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract shed 0.2% to $72.87 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 1.5% to $3.86 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Shell (SHEL) said Tuesday it will raise shareholder distributions to 40-50% of cash flow from operations from 30-40% previously, while keeping its 4% annual dividend rate. Its shares rose 1.4%.