MW : Energy stocks draw strength from broad market, oil
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- An upbeat equities market and overnight gains by crude-oil prices gave energy stocks a lift at the open Thursday. Early trades carried the NYSE Arca Oil Index (XOI 971.02, +7.69, +0.80%) 0.5% higher to 968 points, led by Anadarko Petroleum's (APC 54.31, +1.18, +2.22%) 1.5% gain. The NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index (XNG 446.43, +3.50, +0.79%) was ahead 0.6% at 445 and the Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index (OSX 170.39, +1.41, +0.83%) was up 1.2% at 171. October crude oil futures were up 51 cents at $68.56 a barrel as the latest U.S. fuel inventory data showed a slight increase in gasoline demand. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was ahead 39 points
