01:53 PM EDT, 08/07/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.3% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was decreasing 1.4%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities index was adding 0.7%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was declining 0.6% to $63.98 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was shedding 0.5% to $66.54 a barrel.

US natural gas stocks rose by 7 billion cubic feet in the week ended Aug. 1, below the 11 billion gain expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following an increase of 48 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

Henry Hub natural gas futures were 0.5% lower at $3.06 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, TotalEnergies (TTE) has decided not to invest in NextDecade's ( NEXT ) fifth LNG export unit in Texas or purchase gas from it, Reuters reported. TotalEnergies shares rose 1.3%, and NextDecade ( NEXT ) was falling 4.4%.

Energy Vault ( NRGV ) shares jumped 28%. The company entered into an exclusivity agreement for a $300 million preferred equity investment from an undisclosed infrastructure fund to set up a new subsidiary, Asset Vault, to focus on building, owning, and operating energy storage assets.

ConocoPhillips ( COP ) shares added 0.9% after it posted Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue that topped analysts' expectations.