Energy stocks advanced nearly 1% at midday Monday, with Brent crude edging higher.

Shares of Karoon Energy (ASX:KAR) which gained 3% in recent trade, said operator LLOG advised that the Noble Valiant drillship spudded the Who Dat West exploration well in the US Gulf of Mexico on Dec. 24.

On the flip side, the real estate sector struggled, shedding 1.7%.

Charter Hall Retail REIT (ASX:CQR), which lost about 1%, via its manager Charter Hall Wholesale Management said that its stake in Hotel Property Investment (ASX:HPI) is now 57.61% or 113.3 million shares.