By Steve Gelsi, MarketWatch NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Shares of natural gas producers and drilling firms took the lead higher on Monday, while equities tied to the petroleum business traded flat on weaker oil prices. With the broad market rising on hopes for a jobs recovery, the dollar extended its recent gains as well, putting pressure on crude futures. The NYSE Arca Oil Index (XOI 1,069, +0.24, +0.02%) fell fractionally to 1,068. The NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index (XNG 504.13, +3.33, +0.67%) rose 0.6% to 504. The Philadelphia Oil Service Index (OSX 187.44, +1.74, +0.94%) advanced 0.7% to 187. Crude prices fell $1.40 to $74.07. Among stocks in the spotlight, McDermott International (MDR 22.88, +2.22, +10.75%) jumped 11% to $22.94 after it said it would spin off its nuclear power component business and focus on its oil service engineering and construction practices. See full story. Among mall cap names, lithium ion battery company Ener1 (HEV 6.09, +0.04, +0.61%) said it received $20 million in new investment capital from Itochu Corp., a Japanese commercial trading firm. Itochu bought 3.2 million shares of common stock from the company at $6.18 a share. Shares rose 1.3% to $6.13. Aries Maritime Transport Limited (RAMS 0.95, -0.05, -5.00%) said it'll rename itself NewLead Holdings Ltd. The company's common shares will trade under the symbol NEWL on the Nasdaq for trading on Dec. 21. Shares fell 5% to 95 cents.

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