Energy stocks fell late Thursday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.4% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) shedding 0.8%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index decreased 0.4%, while the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 0.3%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil gained 0.4% to $69.90 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent rose 0.4% at $73.32 a barrel.

US natural gas stocks rose by 37 billion cubic feet in the week ended Friday, topping the 33 billion increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following the gain of 9 billion in the previous week.

Henry Hub natural gas futures climbed 2.3% to $3.95 per 1 million BTU.

In sector news, the Trump administration asked oil and biofuel groups to discuss and work together on a new biofuel policy, Reuters reported.

In corporate news, VivoPower (VVPR) shares fell 3.1%. The company agreed to give Abu Dhabi-based Energi an eight-week exclusivity period to conduct due diligence over its takeover proposal.

Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE) shares jumped 11% after the company's board decided to resume stock buybacks under an existing repurchase program.

Liberty Energy (LBRT) is expected to benefit from its new power generation services business, whose earnings prospects are undervalued by investors, as well as from the stabilizing North American fracking market, Morgan Stanley said. Liberty shares advanced 5.1%.

Par Pacific (PARR) shares climbed 4.8% after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to buy from neutral and raised its price target to $19 from $18.