-- Energy stocks were lower Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) each decreasing 0.3%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was adding 0.4%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 0.4%.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 2.4% to $96.66 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 3.2% to $108.71 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 2.5% to $2.59 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, Shell (SHEL) agreed to buy Canadian energy company ARC Resources in a cash-and-stock deal with an enterprise value of $16.4 billion, as the oil and gas giant looks to increase its exposure to low-cost shale gas and liquids production in Canada's Montney basin. Shell shares were down 2.6%.