01:20 PM EDT, 09/10/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 1.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) rising 1.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was climbing 1.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was adding 1.2%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 1.9% to $63.84 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 1.8% to $67.57 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 2.4% lower at $3.04 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Equinor ( EQNR ) is open to the idea of combining its renewable assets with Danish wind developer Orsted, Bloomberg reported, citing Equinor Chair Jon Erik Reinhardsen. Equinor ( EQNR ) shares gained 2%.