03:31 PM EDT, 07/11/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) each adding 0.7%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index rose 0.9%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index was 0.1% higher.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil climbed 3.1% to $68.62 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract advanced 2.7% to $70.51 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures increased 0.3% to $3.35 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) will receive up to 1 million barrels of crude oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help maintain stable regional supply of transportation fuels across Louisiana and the broader Gulf Coast, the US Department of Energy said Friday. Exxon shares rose 0.5%.