01:17 PM EST, 02/11/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) each rising 2.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was climbing 2.2%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index added 0.6%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 1.4% to $64.88 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 1.4% to $69.70 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 1.7% to $3.17 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Chevron ( CVX ) shares gained 1.6% after it said Wednesday Libya has awarded its subsidiary Chevron Business Development EMEA the Contract Area 106, located in the Sirte Basin, in the 2025 Libyan Bid Round.