01:15 PM EDT, 07/30/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were lower Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index falling 1% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) down 0.9%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was decreasing 1%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index was rising 1.1%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 1.4% to $70.21 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract advanced 1.1% to $73.34 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 3% lower at $3.05 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Shell-led (SHEL) LNG Canada is facing technical problems as it ramps up production at its liquefied natural gas plant at Kitimat, Canada, Reuters reported. Shell was down 1.5%.