-- Energy stocks were lower Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index falling 3.8% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) dropping 4.2%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was shedding 1.6%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was down 1.2%.
The White House is of the view that an agreement with Tehran -- a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations -- is close, Axios reported, citing two US officials and two other sources briefed on the issue. Washington's MoU, if Iran accepts it, will lead to a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and lifting of the American blockade on Iranian ports, a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil sank 7% to $95.14 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract slumped 7.4% to $101.72 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 2.5% to $2.72 per 1 million BTU.
US crude oil stocks, including those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, fell by 7.5 million barrels in the week ended May 1 following a decrease of 13.4 million barrels in the previous week. Excluding inventories in the SPR, commercial crude oil stocks decreased by 2.3 million barrels after a 6.2-million-barrel drop in the previous week, compared with the 3.4-million-barrel decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.
In sector news, Triton Uranium is considering a US listing through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company in 2026, its president Scott Evans told Reuters, as the company seeks to tap rising demand for nuclear fuel and bolster domestic supply. The Canada-based company has begun development work at its Atlas Project in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, where it controls about 46,742 acres of mineral claims, the report said.
In corporate news, Equinor (EQNR) shares fell past 8% after the firm reported Q1 revenue that decreased year on year and missed analysts' estimates.
Vermilion Energy (VET) reported a Q1 loss Wednesday of 0.95 Canadian dollar ($0.70) per diluted share, swinging from earnings of CA$0.10 a year earlier. Its shares dropped over 12%.
Nano Nuclear Energy (NNE) said Wednesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Super Micro Computer (SMCI) to explore the integration of Nano's energy systems with Supermicro's AI server and data center platforms. Nano shares surged 22%.
Terrestrial Energy (IMSR) and Riot Platforms (RIOT) said Wednesday they are collaborating to develop a pairing of planned data centers with co-located nuclear plants. Terrestrial shares jumped past 16%.