03:35 PM EDT, 07/28/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.8% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 0.9%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index climbed 1.7%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index was shedding 1.1%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 2.7% to $66.89 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract advanced 2.6% to $70.22 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 3.1% lower at $3.01 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Venture Global ( VG ) shares were rising 4.2% after it said Monday it has made a final investment decision and closed a $15.1 billion project financing for the first phase of its third project Venture Global CP2 LNG, together with the associated CP Express Pipeline.

National Energy Services Reunited ( NESR ) jumped past 7% after it said Monday that it received multiple five-year downhole drilling contract awards in Kuwait worth a total of $100 million.

Eni (E) expects its green businesses to generate operating profits comparable to those from oil and gas by 2035, with profits from renewables and related activities surpassing traditional energy by 2040, the Financial Times reported, quoting Eni Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi. Eni shares declined 1.6%.