-- Energy stocks were slightly higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.1% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) increasing 0.2%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was adding 0.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was shedding 0.7%.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 0.7% to $91.87 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 0.6% to $95.40 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures increased 0.2% to $2.61 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, Spire (SR) has agreed to sell its natural gas storage assets in Wyoming and Oklahoma to I Squared Capital for $650 million, the companies said Wednesday. Spire shares were down 0.2%.