Wire
Sector Update: Energy Stocks Gain Late Afternoon
Energy stocks were higher late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.5% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) climbing up 2%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was decreasing 0.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index fell 2.2%.Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil gained 4.2% to $105.43 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 3.4% to $109.31 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 2.7% to $2.97 per 1 million BTU.In sector news, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright told CNBC on Friday he expects China to increase oil imports from the US because the two nations are natural partners and because China relies heavily on imports from the Middle East that have mostly been cut off for weeks.In corporate news, ConocoPhillips (COP) shares rose 2.9% after Argus raised its price target to $136 from $128, while keeping its buy rating.Exxon Mobil (XOM) was found not liable by a Texas jury in a lawsuit accusing the oil major of misleading investors about its Canadian oil sands and Rocky Mountain gas operations, Reuters reported late Thursday. Shares gained 3%.BP (BP) plans to cut its pipeline gas trading team and focus on expanding its liquified natural gas trading, Reuters reported. Separately, BP is contemplating selling some natural gas assets in Egypt, Reuters reported. Shares rose 1.7%.Prairie Operating (PROP) shares fell 15% after it reported a Q1 loss late Thursday of $2.16 per diluted share, narrowing from a loss of $3.49 a year earlier. Four analysts polled by FactSet expected earnings of $0.15.
$BP$COP$PROP$XOM
