Energy stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.3% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 1.1%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was climbing 1.9%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was decreasing 0.4%.
Crude oil prices were sharply higher after President Donald Trump warned of more strikes on Iran after saying a peace deal signed in June "is over."
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil jumped 6.1% to $74.72 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract climbed 6.6% to $79.08 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 1.3% to $3.22 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, Chevron (CVX) unit Chevron Technical Center and ZL Chemicals signed a technology licensing deal that allows ZL Chemicals to commercialize Chevron-developed chemical surfactant technology, the companies said Wednesday. Chevron shares rose 1%.