01:37 PM EDT, 07/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.6% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 1.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was increasing 0.9%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was shedding 0.5%.

In geopolitical news, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday night the US "remains open" to talks despite the weekend's violence, and an Iranian official said their side was similarly open to discussions, CNN reported. Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni is heading a high-level delegation to neighboring Pakistan at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart, news reports said Monday. The trip comes after Iran's Foreign Ministry announced mediators continue to exchange proposals to get peace talks back on track after nearly two weeks of bombardment.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil decreased 0.1% to $82.42 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract rose 0.4% to $88.49 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 2.3% to $2.85 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Magnolia Oil & Gas ( MGY ) agreed to buy privately-held WildFire Energy in a roughly $4.06 billion deal, including debt, that will give it a dominant position in the Giddings field in South Texas. Magnolia shares were down 4.6%.

Tamboran Resources ( TBN ) has completed stimulation, cleanout, and completion activities of the Shenandoah South 3H, 4H, and 5H shale gas wells in the Northern Pilot Area of the Beetaloo Basin in Australia, the company said Monday. Its shares climbed 1.5%.

BP (BP) agreed to sell its BP Retail Austria unit, which houses its mobility, convenience, and electric vehicle charging businesses in the country, to Volenergy, according to a Monday statement. BP shares added 0.6%.