-- Energy stocks were lower Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.3% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) decreasing 0.2%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was adding 0.4%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 0.4%.
Crude oil prices rose Monday as US-Iran talks appeared to have stalled, even as Tehran reportedly offered a new proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi visited Pakistan twice over the weekend, while President Donald Trump called off US officials' previously announced trip to Islamabad. Iran has submitted a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and delay talks on uranium enrichment, Axios reported, citing a US official and two other sources.
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 2.9%.
The UK's Seagreen wind farm, which is 25.5%-owned by TotalEnergies (TTE), has delayed a fixed-price government contract, preferring to sell electricity at higher market rates, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing data that it compiled. TotalEnergies shares were decreasing 0.7%.
Greenland Energy (GLND) said Monday it has signed an agreement with Halliburton (HAL) for integrated consulting services and logistical management related to the planning and transportation of equipment and services. Greenland shares were down 12%, and Halliburton rose 0.3%.