Energy stocks were lower late Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index decreasing 0.2% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) shedding 0.4%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was falling 1.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index decreased 0.8%.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 1.7% to $70.42 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract added 1.1% to $72.79 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 3.1% to $3.18 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, SandRidge Energy (SD) shares rose 2.3% after it said Monday it agreed to acquire some producing assets and leasehold interests in the Cherokee play in the mid-continent region for $65 million in cash.