01:34 PM EDT, 07/28/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) each rising about 1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was climbing 1.5%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index was shedding 1.1%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 2.1% to $66.50 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 2% to $69.82 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 2.9% lower at $3.02 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, shares of some US liquefied natural gas producers rose Monday after the EU agreed to buy $250 billion worth of LNG annually over the next three years as part of a new trade deal with the US. Venture Global ( VG ) shares rose 3.9%, and Cheniere Energy (LNG) added 1.1%.