03:41 PM EDT, 04/02/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.2% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) up 0.2%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was adding 0.7%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index advanced 0.3%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil jumped past 11% to $111.19 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract climbed 7.1% to $108.29 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures shed 0.7% to $2.80 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Black Hills (BKH) and NorthWestern Energy ( NWE ) said Thursday that shareholders of both companies approved their proposed all-stock merger at special meetings held today. Black Hills shares rose 1%, and NorthWestern added 1.6%.