01:24 PM EDT, 06/25/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks declined Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) fractionally lower.

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

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 1.9% to $65.59 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 1.7% to $68.30 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 1.2% lower at $3.49 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Shell (SHEL) denied a report by The Wall Street Journal that it is in early talks to acquire BP (BP), Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing a Shell spokesperson. Shell shares were down 0.7% and BP was adding 1.9%.