Energy stocks were lower late Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index falling 2.2% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) down 1.7%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was shedding 1.7%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index fell 1.2%.
Oil prices fell after President Donald Trump said the US and Iran were in "very deep talks," fueling optimism about the prospects of de-escalation between the two nations, though Trump also said military action could resume if diplomacy fails, according to Axios.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 8% to $82.14 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract dropped 9.1% to $88.00 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures shed 4.1% to $2.75 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, Expand Energy (EXE) has agreed to buy private asset-backed natural gas and power marketer Twin Eagle from Five Point Infrastructure for about $1.25 billion, becoming North America's leading gas marketer. Expand Energy shares were down 1.1%.
Ameren (AEE) unit Ameren Missouri said Monday it plans to build the West Alton Energy Center, a 2,100-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas power plant designed to provide baseload electricity, support economic growth and strengthen grid reliability. Ameren shares were shedding 1.4%.
TotalEnergies (TTE) has decided to appeal a June 25 ruling by the Paris Judicial Court in a climate-related duty-of-vigilance case, the company said. TotalEnergies shares were down 2.8%.
Baker Hughes (BKR) shares jumped past 5% after it posted Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue that topped analysts' expectations.
Chevron (CVX) Chief Executive Mike Wirth met with senior US government officials to discuss measures to keep the company's Kazakhstan operations safe from becoming collateral damage in the Ukraine-Russia war, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Chevron shares were down 2%.