03:28 PM EDT, 08/04/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were declining late Monday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index easing 0.1% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) down 0.2%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index rose 0.9%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index climbed 2%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil declined 1.7% to $66.18 a barrel, and benchmark Brent crude dropped 1.5% to $68.66 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures slumped 4.6% to $2.94 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, NRG Energy ( NRG ) shares rose 3.8% after it said Monday it has received initial funding for two new natural gas units at its TH Wharton power plant as a part of the Texas Energy Fund Loan Program.