03:38 PM EDT, 09/25/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.3% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 0.7%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was decreasing 1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was shedding 0.9%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.3% to $65.16 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract increased 0.3% to $69.51 a barrel.

US natural gas stocks rose by 75 billion cubic feet in the week ended Sept. 19, above the 74 billion increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

Henry Hub natural gas futures were 2.2% higher at $3.20 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Chevron ( CVX ) will begin drilling for oil in October at the Kori Kori well in block 5 offshore Suriname, Reuters reported, citing a TV interview with Suriname's Oil Minister Patrick Brunings. Chevron ( CVX ) shares were up 0.6%.