01:16 PM EST, 01/06/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were lower Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index decreasing 1.9% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) down 2.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was shedding 0.6%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was easing 0.2%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was declining 1.2% to $57.64 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was dropping 0.9% to $61.18 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 4% to $3.38 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Vistra ( VST ) shares rose 1.9% after the company agreed to acquire Cogentrix Energy, including about 90% of its natural gas generation assets, from energy-focused private capital firm Quantum Capital Group, to boost its power generation capabilities.