** S&P 500 Energy index rises 1.1% as oil prices remain at their highest since mid-October

** Brent crude futures up 1% at $77.27/barrel; U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures up 1.1% at $74.78/barrel

** Oil prices rise as colder weather spurred buying, while further support was provided by a weaker U.S. dollar and expectations of tighter sanctions on Iranian and Russian oil exports

** Shares of top oil and gas companies Chevron and Exxon Mobil up 1.6% and 1.7%, respectively

** APA Corp up 2.7%, Coterra Energy rises 2.2% and Occidental Petroleum up 2.1%; among top pct. gainers on the energy index

** Oilfield services firms SLB and Halliburton

up 1.7% and 2%, respectively

** Refiners PBF Energy up 1.5% and Par Pacific Holdings rises 2.5%

(Reporting by Pooja Menon in Bengaluru)

((Pooja.Menon@thomsonreuters.com))