03:30 PM EDT, 10/09/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks declined late Thursday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index dropping 1.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) falling 1.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index slipped 2%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index eased 0.2%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil declined 2% to $61.31 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent retreated 1.9% to $65.01 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 2.4% to $3.25 per 1 million BTU.

US natural gas stocks rose by 80 billion cubic feet in the week ended Friday, below the 78 billion increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following an increase of 53 billion in the previous week.

In corporate news, BHP (BHP) faces a price standoff with China state-run iron ore buyer China Mineral Resources, which could stretch into early 2026, Bloomberg reported. BHP shares fell 0.3%.