** S&P 500 energy index .SPNY up 1%, tracking higher crude prices O/R

** Brent crude futures LCOc1 up 1.6% at $63.38/barrel; U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 rise 1.61% to $59.49/barrel

** Prices rise following drone attacks by Ukraine, the closure of Venezuelan airspace by the United States, and OPEC's decision to leave output levels unchanged in the first quarter of 2026

** Energy majors Chevron CVX.N and Exxon Mobil XOM.N up 1.3% and 0.8%, respectively

** Targa Resources TRGP.N, Halliburton HAL.N, APA Corp APA.O and Diamondback Energy FANG.O rise between 2.3% and 2.8%, among top gainers on the energy index

** Oilfield services companies Baker Hughes BKR.O and SLB SLB.N up 0.3% and 0.7%, respectively

** Refiners Phillips 66 PSX.N and Valero Energy VLO.N up 2.2% and 2.1%, respectively

(Reporting by Katha Kalia in Bengaluru)

((Katha.Kalia@thomsonreuters.com))