Sector Update: Energy

01:29 PM EDT, 10/13/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.3% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 1.2%. The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was fractionally higher, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index increased 0.3%. Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.6% to $94.29 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract shed 0.6% to $105.98 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures gained 2.8% to $3.26 per 1 million BTU. In sector news, Iran has escalated its attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, potentially slowing the flow of cargoes through the waterway after nearly returning to prewar levels earlier this month, Bloomberg reported, citing sources working in the shipping industry. In corporate news, BP (BP) shares rose 3.5% after the firm said Tuesday it expects Q3 net debt to be $13.5 billion to $14.5 billion, down from $22.3 billion at the end of Q2.