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Sector Update: Energy Stocks Edge Lower Thursday Afternoon

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

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was shedding 0.2%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 0.3%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 1.5% to $82.04 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract shed 1.4% to $87.78 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures declined 3% to $2.72 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 US 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 0.6%.

Delek Logistics Partners (DKL) shares fell nearly 13% 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 1.5%.

Golar LNG (GLNG) shares added around 1% after it reported higher Q2 net income and operating revenue.

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