03:42 PM EDT, 08/22/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 2.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was climbing 5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was up 0.5%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 0.4% to $63.80 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract added 0.2% to $67.83 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 4.3% to $2.70 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, American Water Works ( AWK ) shares were up 0.2% after its California unit said late Thursday it filed a motion for summary judgment asking the Monterey County Superior Court to rule in its favor and dismiss the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District's lawsuit seeking to take ownership of its Monterey Peninsula water system through eminent domain.