Sector Update: Energy

03:25 PM EDT, 10/19/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were lower late Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index decreasing 0.5% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) down 0.6%. The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was up 0.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index declined 2%. Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 2.2% to $103.60 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract shed 0.6% to $109.23 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 2.5% to $3.04 per 1 million BTU. In corporate news, Valero Energy (VLO) shares fell 2.7% after DBS Bank downgraded the stock to hold.