Sector Update: Energy

01:23 PM EDT, 09/04/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were lower Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index decreasing 0.5% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) shedding 0.8%. The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was falling 1.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was fractionally lower. Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil shed 0.4% to $90.97 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract rose 0.3% to $95.77 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures added 1.3% to $2.95 per 1 million BTU. In corporate news, Shell (SHEL) and Equinor's (EQNR) Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea is expected to receive UK government approval for new drilling this month, news outlets reported Friday. Shell shares were up 1.1%, and Equinor was shedding 0.9%.