Sector Update: Energy Stocks Rise Late Afternoon

03:55 PM EST, 11/10/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.1% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 0.5%. The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index added 0.2%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was decreasing 0.3%. Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil shed 0.5% to $86.44 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract decreased 0.6% to $92.02 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 3.1% to $3.32 per 1 million BTU. In corporate news, Peabody Energy (BTU) shares fell 1.6% after Jefferies downgraded the stock to hold from buy, with an $18 price target. GE Vernova (GEV) shares fell 4.3% after SoftBank said it had recognized a $3.73 billion loss from its subsidiary that procures power generation-related equipment for AI data center projects in the US. Roughly 20% of GE Vernova's gas-power order book goes toward data center and AI-type applications, Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Operations Officer Pablo Koziner told CNBC in June. Diamondback Energy (FANG) and KKR (KKR) said Tuesday they agreed to acquire Five Point Infrastructure's 70% stake in Deep Blue Midland Basin, giving them full ownership of the water infrastructure business. Diamondback shares were up 0.3%. Exxon Mobil (XOM) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Venezuelan government and state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela to evaluate potential drilling opportunities, The Wall Street Journal reported. Exxon shares were 0.1% lower.