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Sector Update: Energy Stocks Advance Friday Afternoon

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Energy stocks rose Friday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index gaining 0.7% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 0.9%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index eased 0.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 0.6%.

Oil prices fell following media reports that the US and Iran are nearing a potential peace deal, just days after the two sides exchanged strikes in a sharp escalation of tensions since a ceasefire in April.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said about 7 million barrels of daily oil and fuel shipments are flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, or about half the volumes stranded at the start of the war with Iran, Bloomberg reported.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 3.4% to $84.76 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent dropped 3.6% to $87.17 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 1.2% to $3.13 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Exxon Mobil (XOM) is studying potential takeover targets, including Woodside Energy (WDS), as the energy giant looks to increase its presence in the liquified natural gas sector and in Asian markets, Bloomberg reported. Exxon shares rose 0.5%, and Woodside jumped 6.3%.

Shell (SHEL) is planning to begin the sale of its offshore wind farms for over $1 billion by the end of this year as the company prioritizes its fossil fuel business, Bloomberg reported. Shell shares eased 0.1%.

BP (BP) started a process to sell minority stakes in its Kaskida and Tiber projects in the Gulf of Mexico, Reuters reported. BP shares rose 0.2%.

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