Energy stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.5% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 1%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was down 0.8%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index advanced 0.5%.
In geopolitical news, the Iranian military said it reached a revenue-sharing deal with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported. "Agreements have been reached regarding each country's share of the strait's waters as well as Iran and Oman's share of its revenues," Bloomberg cited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' spokesman Hossein Mohebbi on Wednesday as telling the state-run Sepah News agency. Reuters cited the IRGC as saying the strait would not open unless the US met Tehran's conditions under an interim ceasefire agreement that was struck in June before unravelling. Those conditions include an end to the US blockade on Iranian ports, compensation and removal of sanctions, the news outlet said.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.3% to $82.61 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract increased 0.2% to $88.42 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures gained 4.9% to $2.91 per 1 million BTU.
In sector news, California Senate Democrats are backing a proposal that would not limit insurers from suing utility companies to recover wildfire-related payouts to policyholders, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing a proposal. The measure puts lawmakers at odds with Governor Gavin Newsom, who is pushing changes to how financial responsibility is assigned for wildfires caused by equipment owned by publicly traded utilities, Bloomberg said.
In corporate news, Par Pacific (PARR) shares popped 3.2%. The company said late Tuesday its 46%-owned Laramie Energy has struck a deal to sell substantially all of its oil and gas assets for $485 million in cash.
Enbridge (ENB) shares rose 1.2% after it said Wednesday it has agreed to buy Salt Creek Midstream's crude oil gathering business for $600 million in cash.
Exelon (EXC) Chief Operating Officer Mike Innocenzo will depart in 2027, the company said late Tuesday. The company also named Robert Kleczynski as chief financial officer, succeeding Jeanne Jones, who will assume the role of executive vice president of finance and strategy, both effective Oct. 5. Exelon shares were fractionally lower.