03:34 PM EDT, 10/25/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher late Friday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.3% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) increasing 0.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index climbed 1.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index fell 1.3%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 2.3% to $71.80 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent advanced 2.3% to $76.07 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures increased 1.5% to $3.06 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Cheniere Energy Partners ( CQP ) said Friday it set a quarterly cash distribution of $0.810 per unit, payable Nov. 14 to unitholders of record as of Nov. 4. Its shares added 0.7%.

Eni (E) reported Q3 earnings of 0.16 euros ($0.17) per diluted share, down from 0.57 euros a year earlier. A single analyst polled by Capital IQ expected 0.35 euros. Eni shares rose 0.8%.

Portland General Electric ( POR ) reported Q3 earnings of $0.90 per diluted share, up from $0.46 a year earlier. Analysts expected $0.89. Its shares shed 0.7%.

Empire Petroleum ( EP ) shares rose 1.5% after the company said a rights offering was oversubscribed.