01:15 PM EDT, 09/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.6% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 2.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was climbing 1.4%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was up 0.7%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 2.1% to $64.75 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 2% to $69.01 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 0.5% higher at $2.87 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Lithium Americas ( LAC ) shares surged 96% after the firm said it is in talks with the US Department of Energy and General Motors (GM) over its Thacker Pass lithium joint venture project, including financing for the project.