Energy stocks were lower late Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index decreasing 0.4% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) fractionally lower.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was down 0.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was falling 1.1%.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil declined 1% to $101.12 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract dropped 1.8% to $105.81 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 0.5% to $2.86 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, Enphase Energy (ENPH) shares jumped past 13% after the company said it opened US pre-orders for its new IQ9S-3P Commercial Microinverter.