02:10 PM EDT, 09/12/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were lower Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.5% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) declining 0.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was decreasing 0.7%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was adding 0.4%.

In sector news, Ukraine's drone strike overnight on Russia's Primorsk oil port near St. Petersburg damaged an oil tanker and pumping station, multiple news outlets reported.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 0.3% to $62.55 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 0.6% to $66.78 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 0.7% higher at $2.95 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Eni (E) said Friday that Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi met with US energy and interior secretaries to review the company's activities with US partners and discuss global energy scenarios. Eni shares were down 0.3%.

Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) said it has invented a new form of graphite that can potentially increase the life of electric vehicle batteries by 30%, Bloomberg reported, citing the company's CEO. Exxon shares were 0.2% lower.

Hawaiian Electric Industries ( HE ) shares were down 0.1% after it said late Thursday its unit Hawaiian Electric priced a $500 million offering of 6% senior notes due 2033.