-- Energy stocks declined Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index fractionally lower and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) decreasing 0.8%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was shedding 0.7%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was down 0.1%.
In sector news, President Donald Trump said Friday in a phone interview with the New York Post that US warships are being restocked with ammunition in order to resume strikes should peace talks with Iran falter this weekend.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 0.6% to $98.39 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 0.7% to $96.70 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 0.8% to $2.65 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, Shell (SHEL) confirmed in an email toon Friday that it is in talks with Venezuela to produce natural gas at the Loran-Manatee offshore field, which crosses the border of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. The company expects to produce gas from Manatee in 2027 but has yet to take a final investment decision on the Loran field, according to a spokesperson. Shell shares were up 0.8%.
The Port of Antwerp in Belgium, which is home to European refineries operated by Exxon Mobil (XOM) and TotalEnergies (TTE), was blocked following an oil spill during a ship refueling operation, preventing large vessels from entering or leaving the port, the port authority said Friday. Exxon shares fell 1.6%, and TotalEnergies was up 1.8%.
EQT (EQT) and Glencore committed to acquiring an extra 1 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas annually from Commonwealth LNG through 20-year agreements, Reuters reported, citing a regulatory document. EQT shares were down 1.1%.