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 0.7%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was decreasing 0.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was shedding 0.3%.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 2.5% to $94.47 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 2.7% to $105.90 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures jumped past 7% to $3.26 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, EOG Resources (EOG) said Chief Financial Officer Ann Janssen is retiring, effective Jan. 1, and the board has appointed senior vice president for finance Jeffrey Hibbard to succeed her in the role. Shares were up 0.5%.