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Sector Update: Energy Stocks Edge Lower Late Afternoon

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Energy stocks were slightly lower late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index fractionally lower and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) easing 0.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was shedding 0.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 0.3%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 2.6% to $81.08 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract shed 2.4% to $86.89 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures declined 2.8% to $2.73 per 1 million BTU.

In geopolitical news, the Strait of Hormuz is "under Iran's control and management," the recently appointed head of Iran's Basij paramilitary unit said Thursday, a day after President Donald Trump said the US had "total control" of the waterway, Reuters reported.

US natural gas stocks rose by 36 billion cubic feet in the week ended Aug. 7, higher than the 31 billion cubic foot increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following an increase of 33 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

In corporate news, Exelon's (EXC) ComEd unit has restored power to more than 80% of customers affected by severe storms that swept through northern Illinois on Aug. 11 and 12, the company said Thursday. Exelon shares were up 0.7%.

Delek Logistics Partners (DKL) shares fell past 11% after the company said it priced an underwritten public offering of 4 million units at $50 each for gross proceeds of $200 million.

Kodiak Gas Services (KGS) has visibility into multiyear EBITDA growth amid rising demand across power and natural gas, RBC Capital Markets said in a note Wednesday. RBC kept an outperform rating on the stock and increased its price target to $88 from $84. Kodiak shares rose 1%.

NextEra Energy (NEE) shares added 0.4%. The company said late Wednesday it signed an agreement with the US Department of Commerce and the Japanese government to fund the development and operation of up to 10 gigawatts of natural gas-powered generation in Texas and Pennsylvania.

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