-- Energy stocks were mixed Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index easing 0.1% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) increasing 0.3%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was adding 0.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was shedding 0.7%.
In sector news, President Donald Trump downplayed the possibility of an extended war in Iran. Trump said the war with Iran was close to over, telling the world to brace for an "amazing two days," as the army chief of mediator Pakistan arrived in Tehran in a bid to prevent a renewed conflict, Reuters reported. Pakistan's military confirmed Field Marshal Asim Munir had arrived in Tehran, the news report said. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Munir, who had mediated the last round of talks, was heading to Iran "to narrow gaps" between the two sides.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 0.7% to $91.87 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 0.6% to $95.40 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures increased 0.2% to $2.61 per 1 million BTU.
US crude oil stocks, including those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, declined by 5.1 million barrels in the week ended April 10 following an increase of 1.3 million barrels in the previous week. Excluding inventories in the SPR, commercial crude oil stocks fell by 900,000 barrels after a 3.1-million-barrel increase in the previous week, compared with the 1.9-million-barrel increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.
In corporate news, Spire (SR) has agreed to sell its natural gas storage assets in Wyoming and Oklahoma to I Squared Capital for $650 million, the companies said Wednesday. Spire shares were down 0.4%.
Equinor's (EQNR) Danske Commodities said it eliminated about 28 positions in March, as the company aims to further its new commercial strategy. Equinor shares fell 1.7%.
NOV (NOV) shares decreased 0.4% after the company said disruptions linked to the war in the Middle East are expected to weigh on its Q1 results, with revenue and earnings coming in below prior guidance due to logistical challenges and delayed equipment deliveries in the region.
BP (BP) plans to simplify its business into two main divisions focused on oil and gas production and downstream operations, marking a shift away from its earlier energy transition strategy, multiple media sources reported Tuesday. BP shares were up 0.4%.