01:48 PM EDT, 05/28/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were slightly higher Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index increasing 0.2% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) fractionally higher.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was falling 1.4%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index shed 0.3%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was fractionally higher at $88.69 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was dropping 1% to $93.36 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 5% to $3.04 per 1 million BTU.

In sector news, US crude oil stocks, including those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, fell by 12.4 million barrels in the week ended May 22 following a decrease of 17.8 million barrels in the previous week. Excluding inventories in the SPR, commercial crude oil stocks declined by 3.3 million barrels after a 7.9-million-barrel decline in the previous week, a larger drop than the 3-million-barrel decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, TotalEnergies (TTE) and Stellantis (STLA) have renewed and expanded their partnership in Europe to develop and deliver engine oils and lubricants, the companies said. TotalEnergies shares rose 0.9%.

Baker Hughes ( BKR ) has secured multiyear contract extensions with Equinor ( EQNR ) for drilling, well services and wireline intervention in the North Sea. Baker Hughes ( BKR ) shares climbed 1.6%, and Equinor ( EQNR ) was fractionally higher.

BP (BP) will become operator of Azerbaijan's offshore Babek natural gas field under an agreement expected to be announced with state energy company Socar on June 1, Reuters reported. BP shares were down 0.5%.