Sector Update: Energy Stocks Gain Late Afternoon
Energy stocks were higher late Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) each rising 2.4%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was adding 1.8%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 1%.Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 2.6% to $97.93 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 2.8% to $104.16 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures gained 6% to $2.92 per 1 million BTU.In corporate news, Enbridge (ENB) is well-positioned to benefit from global energy security trends and rising demand for energy infrastructure, which are creating expanded opportunities across its businesses, RBC Capital Markets said in a note. Enbridge shares rose 1.7%.BP (BP) has a "second chance" to deleverage and restore financial health, supported by higher commodity prices that could put it on firmer footing in coming years, RBC Capital Markets said in a note. RBC upgraded BP to outperform from sector perform, while maintaining its 700 pence ($9.52) price target. BP shares rose 2.1%.Halliburton (HAL) and Blackstone (BX) will invest a combined $1 billion into energy startup VoltaGrid in a deal that values the firm at over $10 billion, Bloomberg reported. Halliburton shares added 1%.National Energy Services Reunited (NESR) shares jumped past 9% after it reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.