<div id="readability-page-1">04:00 PM EST, 12/11/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were lower late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.4% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) shedding 0.5%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was up 0.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index added 0.6%.Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was declining 1.3% to $57.73 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was dropping 1.3% to $61.41 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were falling 8.1% to $4.22 per 1 million BTU.In sector news, US natural gas stocks fell by 177 billion cubic feet in the week ended Dec. 5, a faster drop than the 166 billion cubic foot decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following a decrease of 12 billion cubic feet in the previous week.The International Energy Agency now expects oil supply to rise by 3 million barrels per day to 106.2 million barrels this year and by 2.4 million barrels a day to 108.6 million barrels in 2026. Last month, the agency pegged supply growth at 3.1 million barrels for 2025 and 2.5 million barrels next year.Separately, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries projected liquid production from countries not participating in the Declaration of Cooperation, or DoC, will rise by 960,000 barrels a day this year, up from its previous estimate that called for an 920,000-barrel gain. Liquid production includes crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids.In corporate news, Cenovus Energy ( CVE ) said Thursday it set a capital budget of between $5 billion and $5.3 billion, including about $350 million of capitalized turnaround costs. Cenovus shares were down 0.8%.BP (BP) said Thursday it delivered first oil from the Atlantis Drill Center 1 expansion project in the US Gulf of Mexico, two months ahead of schedule. BP shares were shedding 1%.Kosmos Energy ( KOS ) said Senegal's energy ministry does not plan to nationalize the Yakaar-Teranga gas field, but the block will revert to the state if the project does not attract a new partner by July 2026. Kosmos shares fell 2.9%.Valero Energy ( VLO ) shares dropped 2.7% after BofA Securities downgraded the company to neutral from buy and lowered its price target to $195 from $198.Centuri ( CTRI ) shares rose 4.2% after saying Thursday it has obtained nearly $500 million in client awards in North America, bringing its year-to-date bookings to about $4.3 billion. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.</div>

Energy stocks declined late Thursday, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.4% and the XLE ETF down 0.5%. Crude oil prices fell, with WTI at $57.73 and Brent at $61.41 per barrel. Natural gas futures dropped 8.1%. US natural gas stocks fell by 177 billion cubic feet. The IEA expects oil supply to rise significantly. Cenovus Energy set a capital budget of $5-5.3 billion. BP delivered first oil from the Atlantis project. Kosmos Energy's Senegal project faces challenges. Valero Energy was downgraded by BofA. Centuri shares rose on new client awards.

Sector Update: Energy Stocks Softer Late Afternoon