Energy stocks were mixed Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.2% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) easing 0.1%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was decreasing 0.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was shedding 0.4%.
In sector news, crude oil prices rose Monday as the closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz drove Middle Eastern producers to cut output. The US-Israel war against Iran entered its 10th day, with no signs of de-escalation. This is the first time oil prices rose above the $100 level since 2022, RBC Capital Markets said in a report.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 4% to $94.57 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was climbing 7.3% to $99.43 a barrel.
Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 2.9% to $3.10 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, Shell (SHEL) said Monday a subsidiary has agreed to sell Jiffy Lube International and its Premium Velocity Auto business unit to an affiliate of Monomoy Capital Partners for $1.3 billion. Shell shares were up 1.5%.