01:46 PM EDT, 06/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were lower Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index falling 1.6% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) dropping 1.9%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index slumped 2.8%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index rose 1.2%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was declining 5.4% to $69.89 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was dropping 5.3% to $72.93 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 3.8% lower at $3.70 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Eni (E) reduced its personnel at the Zubair oil and gas field in Iraq, Reuters reported, citing a company spokesman. The precautionary move followed US attacks on key Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, the report said. Eni shares were down 0.9%.