12:41 PM EDT, 07/03/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were mixed Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index easing 0.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) rising 0.3%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was shedding 0.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was adding 0.9%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was declining 0.8% to $66.89 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was falling 0.7% to $68.66 a barrel.

US natural gas stocks rose by 55 billion cubic feet in the week ended June 27, larger than the 49 billion increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following an increase of 96 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

Henry Hub natural gas futures were 1.4% lower at $3.44 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, a joint venture between Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) and QatarEnergy is seeking permission from the US Department of Energy to re-export liquefied natural gas for a two-year period starting Oct. 1. Exxon shares were rising 1.2%.