Energy stocks were lower Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.7% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) shedding 0.9%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was decreasing 0.7%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was down 0.6%.
In sector news, the US and Iran have agreed to a memorandum of understanding to extend a ceasefire between the countries and begin talks on Tehran's nuclear program, Axios reported Thursday. However, Trump is yet to sign off on the deal, according to the report. In a social media post Friday morning, Trump said he was heading to the White House Situation Room "to make a final determination," as he announced an end to the naval blockade against Iran.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 2% to $87.14 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract dropped 1.9% to $91.93 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures climbed 5% to $3.04 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, Exxon Mobil (XOM) is projecting oil prices to shoot up once again in the coming weeks when inventories reach record low levels, the company's senior vice president Neil Chapman said Thursday, according to a FactSet transcript. Exxon shares were down 0.8%.
Chevron's (CVX) oil production at its Tengiz field in Kazakhstan dropped significantly on Tuesday after an accident, Reuters reported Friday, citing industry sources. Output fell to between 5,000 and 10,000 metric tons on Tuesday from typically 125,000 tons a day, according to the report. Chevron shares were shedding 0.5%.
ReNew Energy Global (RNW) has received a non-binding proposal from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and ReNew's CEO Sumant Sinha to buy shares not already owned by the consortium for $6.75 each in cash, the company said Friday. ReNew shares rose 2.3%.