03:44 PM EDT, 08/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) each adding 0.6%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was rising 1.5%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index was down 0.4%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 1.1% to $63.42 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract advanced 1.1% to $67.56 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 2.7% higher at $2.83 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, NuScale Power ( SMR ) , which develops compact nuclear reactors, has strong US government backing for its technology, though it continues to lack binding commercial contracts, BofA Securities said, initiating coverage of the stock with a neutral rating. NuScale shares rose 0.2%.