-- Energy stocks were mixed Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index fractionally higher and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) decreasing 0.8%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was shedding 0.7%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was up 0.1%.
In sector news, President Donald Trump said Friday in a phone interview with the New York Post that US warships are being restocked with ammunition in order to resume strikes should peace talks with Iran falter this weekend.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 0.4% to $98.23 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 1.1% to $96.94 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 0.6% to $2.65 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, Shell (SHEL) confirmed in an email toon Friday that it is in talks with Venezuela to produce natural gas at the Loran-Manatee offshore field, which crosses the border of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. The company expects to produce gas from Manatee in 2027 but has yet to take a final investment decision on the Loran field, according to a spokesperson. Shell shares were up 0.9%.