Energy stocks were higher Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) each adding about 0.4%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was up 0.4%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index increased 0.8%.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil shed 0.4% to $102.00 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract fell 1.2% to $104.55 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 1% to $2.92 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, National Fuel Gas (NFG) said its board plans to conclude an evaluation of a plan to separate the firm into two publicly traded companies by Oct. 15. Shares were up 0.6%.