Energy stocks advanced Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.8% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 2.3%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index climbed 3.8%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index added 1.2%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 1.4% to $60.91 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent advanced 1.4% to $64.23 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 1.7% to $3.50 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, KKR (KKR) increased its equity stake in Eni's (E) Enilive to 30% from 25%. Eni shares rose 3.7% while KKR was 1.3% lower.

BP (BP) said it expects upstream volumes to decline in Q1, with slight growth in oil offset by lower gas and low-carbon output due to recently completed asset sales in Egypt and Trinidad. Separately, BP shareholder Legal and General plans to vote against the re-election of BP Chair Helge Lund at the annual meeting on April 17, Legal and General said. BP was up 0.9%.

VivoPower (VVPR) shares rose 2% after the firm said its Tembo e-LV unit signed a distribution deal worth up to $85 million with Green Watt to sell 1,600 Tembo electric utility vehicles in Saudi Arabia over the next five years.