01:16 PM EDT, 07/21/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.9% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) up 0.5%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was climbing 1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was down 0.2%.

In geopolitical news, the Houthi-run SABA news agency said six ships attempting to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the southern Red Sea were forced to reroute on Tuesday after being warned by the rebels, a day after they announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, according to the Associated Press.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil climbed 2.4% to $85.25 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract rose 2.3% to $91.24 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures increased 0.1% to $2.86 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Shell (SHEL), TotalEnergies (TTE) and BP (BP) are in negotiations to supply 15 to 18 cargoes of liquefied natural gas per month to Egypt for at least three years, Reuters reported. Shell shares were up 0.8%, TotalEnergies climbed 3.2%, and BP added 0.9%