01:59 PM EDT, 06/12/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks advanced Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.4% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index eased 0.2%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index rose 1.1%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.2% at $68.28 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent shed 0.2% to $69.60 a barrel.

US natural gas stocks rose by 109 billion cubic feet in the week ended Friday, above the 108 billion increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following the gain of 122 billion in the previous week.

Henry Hub natural gas futures were little changed at $3.51 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, NexGen Energy ( NXE ) shares added 1.3% after Saskatchewan's Ministry of Environment has approved the company's 2025 site program at the Rook I Property in the Athabasca Basin.

TotalEnergies (TTE) is collaborating with French firm Mistral AI to set up an innovation lab focused on artificial intelligence to back the oil giant's multi-energy strategy, particularly in low-carbon energy. TotalEnergies shares rose 1.6%.

Cenovus Energy ( CVE ) restored full production at its Christina Lake oil sands asset in Alberta following recent wildfires in the area. Cenovus shares added 0.6%.