01:30 PM EDT, 08/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) each rising about 0.5%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was adding 0.7%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index was down 0.8%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 1.3% to $63.52 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 1.2% to $67.65 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 3% higher at $2.84 per 1 million BTU.

US natural gas stocks rose by 13 billion cubic feet in the week ended Aug. 15, below the 18 billion gain expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following an increase of 56 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

In corporate news, Energy Fuels ( UUUU ) shares rose past 6% after the company said it has produced its first kilogram of dysprosium oxide at pilot scale at its White Mesa Mill in Utah.