Energy stocks were higher Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.4% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 1.6%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was climbing 2.9%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was up 0.7%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 1.1% to $82.15 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract advanced 1.3% to $88.18 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures added 0.9% to $2.75 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Phillips 66 (PSX) and Marathon Petroleum (MPC) held discussions earlier this year over a potential combination that would have created an oil-and-gas company valued at about $180 billion, Semafor reported. Phillips 66 shares were down 0.2%, and Marathon was shedding 0.8%.