01:36 PM EDT, 06/11/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.6% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index added 0.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was increasing 0.2%.

US crude oil stocks, including those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, fell by 3.4 million barrels in the week ended June 6 following a decrease of 3.8 million barrels in the previous week. Excluding inventories in the SPR, commercial crude oil stocks fell by 3.6 million barrels after a 4.3-million-barrel decline in the previous week, a larger drop than the 2.6-million-barrel decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 3.1% to $67.01 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract advanced 2.6% to $68.62 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 1.2% lower at $3.49 per 1 million BTU.

In sector news, Apollo Global Management (APO) funds have made a strategic investment in T.D. Williamson, a pipeline infrastructure service provider. Private equity firm SCF Partners will keep a majority stake in T.D. Williamson.

In corporate news, Oklo ( OKLO ) shares jumped 26% after it said Wednesday it was selected as an intended awardee by the Defense Logistics Agency Energy to provide power via the deployment of an Aurora powerhouse at the Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska.