03:44 PM EDT, 05/24/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were rising late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index adding 0.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was shedding 0.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index rose 0.9%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 1.1% to $77.72 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract advanced 0.9% to $82.11 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures slumped 4.2% to $2.55 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Enerplus ( ERF ) said Friday that its shareholders voted to approve the $3.8 billion sale of the oil and gas producer to Chord Energy ( CHRD ) . Enerplus ( ERF ) shares were rising 1.4% and Chord was up 1.5%.

Entergy ( ETR ) said Friday it expects to recognize a one-time non-cash pension settlement charge in Q2 of between $305 million and $335 million before taxes following the purchase of a group annuity contract. Its shares fell 0.2%.

Martin Midstream Partners ( MMLP ) said Friday that Martin Resource Management has made a non-binding proposal to buy all of the units of Martin Midstream Partners ( MMLP ) it doesn't already own for $3.05 per unit in cash. Martin Midstream ( MMLP ) shares popped 3.3%.

Hess (HES) Chief Executive John Hess has until Tuesday to resolve some shareholders' concerns over the proposed $53 billion merger with Chevron ( CVX ) , Reuters reported Friday. Hess shares were rising 0.7% while Chevron ( CVX ) was up 0.5%.