03:54 PM EST, 12/23/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging up late Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index adding 0.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) increasing 0.6%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was rising 1.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was 0.2% higher.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.1% lower at $69.38 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was down 0.2% to $72.78 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 2.1% to $3.67 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, TPG's (TPG) climate investment arm is in talks to buy Altus Power ( AMPS ) , Reuters reported. Altus shares jumped 12.5% and TPG was down 1.8%.

Lithium Americas ( LAC ) shares jumped past 6% after the firm said it closed its joint venture with General Motors (GM) to fund, develop and operate the Thacker Pass lithium project in Humboldt County, Nevada.

Vermilion Energy ( VET ) shares added 0.3% after the company said it has agreed to buy Westbrick Energy for about $1.08 billion.

Talen Energy ( TLN ) said Monday the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an order deferring the company's request for a rehearing of its rejected agreement to increase power at its Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, nuclear plant to an Amazon.com (AMZN) data center. Talen shares rose 1.2%.