01:22 PM EDT, 08/06/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.3% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) up 1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was climbing 3.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was shedding 0.9%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 3.5% to $77.83 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract added 4.2% to $82.77 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 1.1% to $2.66 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, BP (BP) has agreed to acquire Woodside Energy's ( WDS ) 70% stake in the Calypso gas project in Trinidad and Tobago. Following the close of the deal, BP will own 100% of the early-stage, deepwater natural gas project and will assume operatorship, it said. BP shares rose 2.1%, and Woodside added 2.8%.