03:41 PM EST, 11/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.9% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 0.8%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was climbing 0.7%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was decreasing 0.2%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 1.6% to $60.89 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract advanced 1.3% to $65.03 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 0.3% higher at $4.37 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) , Chevron ( CVX ) , private equity firm Carlyle (CG), and Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. are among companies interested in acquiring Russian energy giant Lukoil's international assets, Bloomberg reported. Exxon shares rose 1.2%, and Chevron ( CVX ) was up 0.3%.