** S&P 500 energy index .SPNY up 0.4% as crude prices edge higher O/R

** Brent crude futures LCOc1 up 0.2% at $59.95/barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rises 0.3% to $56.31/barrel

** Oil prices rise as the market waits for news about a possible Russia-Ukraine peace deal and interest rate decisions from central banks around the world

** Top oil and gas firm Exxon XOM.N and Chevron CVX.N up marginally

** Diamondback Energy FANG.O, EQT Corp EQT.N, Baker Hughes BKR.O and Devon Energy DVN.N rise between 2.4% to 1.1%, among biggest percent gainers on the index

** Oilfield services company Halliburton HAL.N rise 1.5%

** Refiner Valero Energy VLO.N climbs marginally

(Reporting by Varun Sahay in Bengaluru)

((Varun.sahay@thomsonreuters.com))