Sector Update: Energy Stocks Rise Thursday Afternoon

01:57 PM EDT, 10/01/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.9% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 1.3%. The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index increased 0.8%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index advanced 0.2%. Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 1.8% to $92.04 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract climbed up 3.4% to $101.32 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 2% to $2.97 per 1 million BTU. In sector news, the Trump administration has urged Germany and France to release emergency diesel reserves to help lower global fuel prices or face a possible US diesel export ban, Reuters reported. Separately, US natural gas stocks increased by 64 billion cubic feet in the week ended Sept. 25, above the 63 billion cubic foot increase expected in a Bloomberg survey and following an increase of 53 billion cubic feet in the previous week. In corporate news, Constellation Energy (CEG) shares rose 2.1% after the company and Amazon (AMZN) said late Wednesday they have signed a long-term agreement to support investment in and expansion of the Calvert Cliffs Clean Energy Center in Maryland. The deal is expected to back over $3 billion in infrastructure investment at the 1,790-megawatt nuclear plant, the companies said. ConocoPhillips (COP) said it has informed employees, partners, and regulators that it is evaluating a potential sale of its Norway business and the Teesside oil terminal in the UK after receiving an unsolicited purchase offer. Shares rose 0.8%. TotalEnergies (TTE) is aiming to invest $10 billion in Argentina, including $4 billion to $5 billion over the next 10 years, Reuters reported, citing CEO Patrick Pouyanne. Shares were down 2%.