Energy stocks were higher late Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.8% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 1.7%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was climbing 3.2%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was down 0.5%.
Crude oil prices rose Monday amid a lack of progress on US-Iran peace talks. Iran has submitted its new proposal to end the war, but the White House believes it fails to offer meaningful improvements on the last offer, Axios reported Monday, citing a senior US official and a source briefed on the issue.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 1% to $106.42 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 0.4% to $109.70 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 2% to $3.02 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, NextEra Energy (NEE) and Dominion Energy (D) said they have agreed to merge in all-stock deal to create the largest regulated electric utility in the world. Dominion's shareholders will get 0.8138 of NextEra's shares for each share owned, giving them a 25.5% stake in the combined entity, they said, adding that NextEra's shareholders will have the balance. NextEra was down 4.7%, and Dominion jumped past 9%.
Devon Energy (DVN) may see support from its upcoming combined company guidance with Coterra Energy in June, possible asset sales, merger synergies, stronger shareholder returns, and continued investment in Delaware Basin assets, RBC said. Devon shares added 0.5%.
ConocoPhillips (COP) and Glenfarne Group's subsidiary have signed a 30-year agreement to supply North Slope natural gas for phase one of the Alaska LNG project, the companies said Monday. ConocoPhillips shares rose 1.7%.
Compass Minerals International (CMP) said it plans to re-enter the lithium market via a partnership with startup EnergyX to extract lithium from Utah's Great Salt Lake, Reuters reported. Compass shares fell 1.1%.