02:01 PM EDT, 07/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were mixed Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 0.2%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was rising 1.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was advancing 0.4%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 1.4% to $67.29 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 1% to $69.20 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were up 0.4% to $3.56 per 1 million BTU.

US natural gas stocks rose by 46 billion cubic feet in the week ended July 11, slightly larger than the 45 billion cubic foot rise expected in a Bloomberg survey and following an increase of 53 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

In corporate news, a coalition of US solar panel makers, including First Solar ( FSLR ) , asked the Commerce Department to impose antidumping and countervailing duties on imports from Indonesia, India, and Laos, Reuters reported. First Solar ( FSLR ) shares climbed 3.4%.

Helix Energy Solutions ( HLX ) shares gained 3.4% after the company said it was selected as a service provider for Danish power cables manufacturer NKT's T3600 Subsea Trencher under a four-year agreement.

BW LPG ( BWLP ) shares rose 1.1% after it said it closed two financing deals worth $595 million to back fleet renewal and cut funding costs.