01:32 PM EDT, 07/22/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks advanced Tuesday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) both rising 0.7%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index climbed 2.4%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index gained 1.1%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate fell1.4% to $66.25 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent dropped 1.3% to $68.30 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures declined 2.2% to $3.25 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) is in talks with the government of Trinidad and Tobago to explore oil and gas in up to seven deepwater blocks off the country's east coast, Reuters reported. Exxon shares added 0.5%.