02:03 PM EDT, 07/31/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were lower Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) decreasing 0.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was falling 2.4%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index was rising 0.2%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil declined 1.2% to $69.17 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract fell 1% to $72.50 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 2.1% higher at $3.11 per 1 million BTU.

US natural gas stocks rose by 48 billion cubic feet in the week ended July 25, above the 40 billion gain expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following an increase of 23 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

In corporate news, Southern (SO) shares were falling 1% after it reported Q2 earnings that decreased year-over-year and fell short of analyst expectations.

PBF Energy (PBF) shares were down more than 7% after it reported a Q2 adjusted loss of $1.03 per diluted share, widening from a loss of $0.54 a year earlier.

MPLX ( MPLX ) shares added 0.8% after it said Thursday it has agreed to buy Northwind Midstream for $2.38 billion in cash, subject to adjustments.