Energy stocks were lower Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index decreasing 0.8% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) down 0.3%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index shed 1.6%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index declined 1.3%.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 1.8% to $68.26 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract dropped 2.3% to $71.25 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures shed 1.6% to $3.22 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, Sable Offshore (SOC) shares surged 35% after it said Wednesday that it has priced a combined equity and debt offering to raise capital and refinance borrowings tied to its energy assets. Proceeds from both offerings will be used primarily to repay a senior secured term loan with Exxon Mobil (XOM), as well as for transaction costs and general corporate purposes, Sable said. Exxon shares were fractionally higher.