-- Energy stocks were higher Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 0.7%.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was decreasing 0.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was steady.
In sector news, oil prices rose Monday following an apparent flare-up between the US and Iran ahead of the expiration of their ceasefire agreement this week. Oil prices had plunged on Friday as Iran declared that the Strait of Hormuz was open, a key US demand. Tehran, however, took back control of the waterway on Saturday. Both sides have accused each other of violating a two-week ceasefire that is due to expire Tuesday.
Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil jumped 6.8% to $89.56 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract popped 5.9% to $95.72 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures increased 0.9% to $2.70 per 1 million BTU.
In corporate news, USA Rare Earth (USAR) on Monday agreed to acquire Brazilian rare earths miner Serra Verde in a cash-and-stock deal with an equity value of about $2.8 billion, as the critical minerals producer aims to boost its rare earth operations. USA Rare Earth shares jumped past 8%.
Eni (E) and Repsol have reached a deal with the Venezuelan government to begin exporting natural gas from the country's Perla field in the Gulf of Venezuela, shipping the fuel in the form of liquefied natural gas from a floating terminal, Bloomberg reported. Separately, Eni said it has made a gas discovery in the Kutei Basin off the coast of Indonesia. Eni shares rose 1%.
Sable Offshore (SOC) shares added 0.4% after it said capital expenditure across its assets is expected to be around $180 million from April through December this year.