-- Energy stocks declined late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index dropping 1.9% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) falling 1.8%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index lost 2.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index shed 1.5%.
In sector news, Iran has created a government agency to vet and tax vessels seeking passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the Associated Press reported, citing Lloyd's List Intelligence. Tehran is reviewing the latest US proposals for ending the war.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 1.5% to $96.53 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent gained 0.8% at $102.11 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 1.6% to $2.77 per 1 million BTU.
US natural gas stocks rose 63 billion cubic feet in the week ended Friday, smaller than the 72 billion rise expected in a Bloomberg survey and following the gain of 79 billion in the previous week.
In corporate news, BKV (BKV) shares fell 2.5% after it reported Q1 adjusted earnings Thursday of $0.22 per diluted share, down from $0.44 a year earlier. An analyst polled by FactSet expected $0.36.
Cheniere Energy (LNG) shares dropped nearly 4% after the company reported a Q1 loss of $16.65 per diluted share, swinging from earnings of $1.57 a year earlier.
Shell (SHEL) shares fell 3.5% after the company reported lower-than-expected Q1 revenue.
Tenaris (TS) shares slumped 5.3% after the company said Q2 sales will be affected by lower shipments in the Middle East. Tenaris also named Gabriel Podskubka CEO.