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Sector Update: Energy Stocks Fall Late Afternoon

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Energy stocks were lower late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index falling 1.2% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) shedding 1.4%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index dropped 1.4%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index decreased 0.4%.

Crude oil prices fell in the aftermath of Washington degrading Iran's capability to attack commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command overnight hit 90 Iranian military targets, according to its social media post on X, after striking 80 on the previous night following Iran's attacks on three commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for about a fifth of global crude oil flows.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 2.5% to $71.72 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract dropped 2.6% to $75.97 a barrel.

US natural gas stocks rose by 61 billion cubic feet in the week ended July 3, larger than the 58 billion cubic foot increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following an increase of 87 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

Henry Hub natural gas futures slumped 6.3% to $3.01 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Chevron (CVX) is poised to post Q2 earnings above Wall Street's expectations on stronger crude prices and improved refining margins, UBS Securities said in a note. Chevron shares were down 1.4%.

Bloom Energy (BE) shares were up 2.5% after the company rejected claims made in a short seller report as "false and misleading." Hunterbrook Media's report alleged Bloom Energy relies on Chinese suppliers for scandium, a key material used in its fuel cells.

BP (BP) will push decision-making closer to the "frontline" and seek greater financial accountability and discipline, said Meg O'Neill, the British energy giant's new CEO, on LinkedIn. BP shares fell 1.6%.

TotalEnergies (TTE) shares were shedding 0.7% after the company said it sold its 170-megawatt distributed solar portfolio in seven European countries to Amarenco and AMPYR Distributed Energy.

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$BKR$COP$CVX$OXY
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$LMND$SAR$TFC$XYZ
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