03:56 PM EDT, 03/19/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index climbing 1.3% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 1.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index gained 1.8%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index shed 0.4%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 1.5% to $94.91 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract shed 0.7% to $106.60 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 2.3% to $3.13 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) and Saudi Aramco's SAMREF joint venture in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, was hit by an aerial strike Thursday, Reuters reported, citing an industry source. The strike had minimal impact on the refinery, according to the report. Exxon shares were up 0.5%.

Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) , BP (BP), and Vitol are shipping a record volume of fuel to Australia in March, as supply disruptions linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz force a shift away from Asia, Reuters reported. BP shares climbed 2.8%.

Shell (SHEL) said Thursday it is working closely with local authorities, partners, and customers to assess damage following Iran's attack on the Ras Laffan Industrial City natural gas refinery in Qatar. Shell shares were down 1.7%.

Cheniere Energy (LNG) shares jumped past 5% after UBS lifted the company's price target to $305 from $301, while keeping the buy rating.