Sector Update: Energy Stocks Mixed Late Afternoon

03:54 PM EDT, 10/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were mixed late Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.1% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) fractionally lower. The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was increasing 0.9%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index added 1.3%. Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 1.8% to $101.79 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract shed 0.4% to $109.15 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures declined 1.4% to $3.01 per 1 million BTU. In geopolitical news, the UK will provide additional defensive military support to Saudi Arabia following escalating attacks in the region by Iran-aligned militant group Houthis. It will fly defensive counter-air missions to support the protection of Saudi cities and critical national infrastructure against aerial attack, using Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets, according to a UK government statement. These aircraft will operate defensively rather than conducting offensive strikes. In corporate news, American Electric Power (AEP) shares rose 2.2% after BTIG upgraded the company's rating to buy. Halliburton (HAL) shares were up 1.8% after it reported higher Q3 adjusted net income and revenue. Eni (E) has launched the start-up activities of the Meleiha phase 2 project in Egypt's Western Desert through its Agiba Petroleum with the state-owned Egyptian General Petroleum, the company said. Eni shares were up 0.1%. Deep Fission (FISN) said Tuesday it signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Great Plains Development Authority to supply electricity to tenants at a Kansas industrial park where the company is developing a nuclear reactor. Deep Fission shares fell 22%.