Sector Update: Energy

01:43 PM EDT, 10/28/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) up 0.6%. The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was adding 0.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index declined 0.5%. Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 3.1% to $103.00 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract added 1.7% to $115.76 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures gained 4.2% to $2.81 per 1 million BTU. In corporate news, GE Vernova (GEV) has agreed to buy high-voltage grid equipment manufacturer Trench Group from investment firm Triton Partners for about $9 billion as the energy company aims to bolster its electrification business amid surging demand for grid modernization. GE Vernova shares were down 0.8%.