02:03 PM EDT, 10/30/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up nearly 0.3% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 0.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index increased 0.7%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 0.3%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 0.3% to $60.66 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 0.1% to $65.03 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures climbed almost 3.1% to $3.93 per 1 million BTU.

In sector news, US natural gas stocks rose by 74 billion cubic feet in the week ended Oct. 24, as expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following an increase of 87 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

In corporate news, CMS Energy ( CMS ) shares climbed nearly 2% after it reported Thursday Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue that rose year on year and beat analysts' estimates.

Southern (SO) shares rose 0.6% after the company reported Thursday Q3 earnings and operating revenue above analysts' estimates.

Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) is in talks with senior officials in Kazakhstan on the potential expansion of the Central Asian nation's Kashagan oil field, Bloomberg reported. Exxon shares were down 0.4%.