Energy stocks were higher late Tuesday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) each adding 0.8%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index climbed 2.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index increased 0.3%.
Oil prices rose as a faltering ceasefire between the US and Iran kept the Strait of Hormuz closed. Front-month West Texas Intermediate gained 4.3% to $102.28 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent advanced 3.4% to $107.78 a barrel.
Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 2.4% to $2.84 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, TotalEnergies (TTE) and its partners ConocoPhillips (COP) and QatarEnergy signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday with Syrian Petroleum relating to the exploration of block 3, offshore Syria in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the company said. TotalEnergies shares rose 1.3%, and ConocoPhillips added 2.2%.
Ecopetrol (EC) said Tuesday its President Ricardo Roa has been charged with alleged violations of spending limits related to the country's 2022 presidential campaign following a probe by Colombia's General Prosecutor's Office. Ecopetrol shares were up 2.7%.
Targa Resources (TRGP) is positioned for growth into 2026 and beyond, supported by strong Permian volume growth and potential upside from commodity price tailwinds, RBC Capital Markets said. Targa shares gained 1.1%.
Eni (E) asked Morgan Stanley (MS) to help it raise funds from investors, including Apollo (APO), KKR (KKR), and Stonepeak, in a potential deal backed by its floating liquefied natural gas assets, Reuters reported. Eni shares rose 0.6%.