01:05 PM EDT, 07/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.1% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 1.2%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was climbing 4.2%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index was down 0.8%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was declining 0.3% to $65.12 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was shedding 0.4% to $68.35 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 5.2% lower at $3.08 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Baker Hughes ( BKR ) shares jumped 9.6% after it reported higher adjusted diluted earnings in Q2.