-- Energy stocks were higher late Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.2% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 1.3%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was climbing 1.8%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was shedding 0.2%.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 3.3% to $92.60 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 3.2% to $101.63 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 0.6% to $2.71 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, Spire (SR) said Wednesday that it agreed to sell its Mississippi local gas distribution business to Delta Utilities, which is backed by Bernhard Capital Partners, for $75 million in cash. Spire shares were down 1.1%.