01:49 PM EST, 03/06/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were lower Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index decreasing 0.5% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) down 0.7%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index fell 1.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index dropped 2.3%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising less than 0.1% to $66.36 a barrel while the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 0.3% to $69.47 a barrel.

US natural gas stocks fell by 80 billion cubic feet in the week ended Feb. 28, a smaller drop than the 94 billion decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following a decrease of 261 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 3.4% to $4.30 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Eni (E) has received non-binding offers for a minority stake in its carbon capture and storage unit from five parties, Reuters reported. Eni shares were rising 0.1%.

Venture Global ( VG ) shares fell past 32% after it reported a decline in Q4 revenue, while earnings missed analysts' expectations.

BP's (BP) emissions under its operational control grew by around 4.7% during 2024 compared with a year earlier, rising to 33.6 million metric tons from 32.1 million tons in 2023, the energy major disclosed in its annual report Thursday. BP shares were down 0.7%.