US natural gas stocks rose by 33 billion cubic feet in the week ended July 31, larger than the 30 billion increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET and following an increase of 28 billion cubic feet in the previous week.
Stocks at 3.117 trillion cubic feet are 0.4% lower than in the comparable week a year ago but 6.7% higher than their 5-year average.
Energy stocks were lower late Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index falling 1.8% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) dropping 2.1%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index declined 2.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index shed 1.1%.In geopolitical news, the US, Iran and Oman are moving toward an interim deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington looking at a Wednesday announcement, Axios reported, citing two regional sources and a US official. President Donald Trump reportedly said late Tuesday that an agreement to reopen the strait, the world's most important chokepoint for crude flows, was imminent. Meanwhile, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed an attack on a Saudi Arabian tanker near the coast of Yanbu, a major port for Saudi crude oil exports, according to a CNBC report.Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 0.7% to $75.23 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract rose 0.2% to $79.50 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures shed 0.4% to $2.67 per 1 million BTU.US crude oil stocks, including those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, fell by 400,000 barrels in the week ended July 31 following a decrease of 11.0 million barrels in the previous week. Excluding inventories in the SPR, commercial crude oil stocks rose by 2.5 million barrels after a 7.2-million-barrel decline in the previous week, compared with the 1.5-million-barrel decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.In corporate news, Constellation Energy (CEG) said Wednesday its board has elected Chief Executive Officer and President Joe Dominguez as chairman. Constellation shares were down 0.9%.Gran Tierra Energy (GTE) shares surged 36% after the company said Wednesday it agreed to sell its oil business in Colombia and Ecuador to Paris-listed Etablissements Maurel & Prom for an enterprise value of $1.33 billion.BP's (BP) push to boost its balance sheet is set to pick up speed in H2, helped by firmer refining margins and ongoing asset sales, RBC Capital Markets said in a note. BP shares were down 3%.Natural Resource Partners (NRP) shares jumped past 8% after it reported its Q2 results.
Financial stocks were higher in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.4% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) up 0.2%.The Philadelphia Housing Index was adding 0.8%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) was shedding 0.4%.Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was rising 1.2% to $64,814, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries decreased 1 basis point to 4.617%.In economic news, the Institute for Supply Management's US services index rose to 54.1 in July from 54.0 in June, compared with expectations for 54.5 in a Bloomberg-compiled survey. The reading suggests faster expansion, in line with other measures but in contrast with the Richmond Fed print signaling contraction.The S&P Global US services index was revised upwards to 54.6 in July from the 53.6 flash reading, compared with expectations for no revision in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. The July index is above the 51.2 reading in June and is the highest for nine months.ADP's monthly measure of private payrolls showed a 44,000 increase in July, below expectations in a Bloomberg-compiled poll for a gain of 65,000. The July increase followed a downwardly revised 95,000 jobs increase in June.In corporate news, PayPal (PYPL) CEO Enrique Lores plans to break out company results and assign revenue targets for its three main businesses to give investors a clearer picture of each unit's potential, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing an interview. PayPal shares were down 0.8%.JPMorgan Chase (JPM) Chief Executive Jamie Dimon has reached out to CEOs of other large banks and IT companies, urging them to join a group seeking to address risks posed by AI, Reuters reported. JPMorgan shares were up 0.7%.Morgan Stanley (MS) is leading a consortium of banks planning to refinance through bond sales $15 billion of debt linked to a Google-backed data center in Texas that has been leased to Anthropic, the Financial Times reported. Morgan Stanley shares rose 0.8%.Ares Management (ARES) and Three Hills Capital are in talks to provide loans to Toscafund Asset Management to help finance its acquisition of Spire Healthcare Group, Bloomberg reported. Ares shares were down 2.1%.
Healthcare stocks were higher late Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) each adding 1.2%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) increased 0.5%.In corporate news, Eli Lilly (LLY) shares rose 4.7% after it posted higher Q2 non-GAAP earnings and revenue in addition to raising its 2026 sales guidance. Separately, CVS Health (CVS) said Wednesday it revamped its direct-to-consumer weight management program, lowering the cost of virtual visits and expanding access to GLP-1 medications through a collaboration with Lilly. CVS shares were down 3.8%.Novo Nordisk (NVO) said Wednesday it won a preliminary injunction in the Netherlands against Ceban Ziekenhuisfarmacie in a patent-infringement case involving its compounded semaglutide nasal spray. Novo shares added 0.6%.AstraZeneca (AZN) and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) are not engaged in discussions over a potential merger, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing a senior source close to the matter. AstraZeneca shares rose 3.5%, and Bristol Myers Squibb fell 3.2%.Charles River Laboratories (CRL) on Wednesday reported fiscal Q2 non-GAAP earnings and sales above market expectations and raised its 2026 non-GAAP EPS guidance. Its shares jumped 11%.