Energy stocks were lower Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index decreasing 0.6% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) down 0.5%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was falling 1.8%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 0.5%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 4% to $69.08 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract dropped 4.1% to $72.43 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 1.6% higher at $3.347 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Constellation Energy (CEG) said it filed applications with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to renew the operating licenses for its Ginna and Nine Mile Point Unit 1 nuclear reactors in New York through 2049. Its shares were down 1.5%.