By Steve Gelsi, MarketWatch NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -Energy stocks rose in early trading on Wednesday, as crude prices and the broad market provided a double lift. The NYSE Arca Oil Index (XOI 1,067, +1.00, +0.09%) rose 0.4% to 1,069. The NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index (XNG 545.59, +0.04, +0.01%) rose 0.4% to 548. The Philadelphia Oil Service Index (OSX 194.60, +0.69, +0.36%) rose 0.5% to 195. Crude futures advanced 87 cents to $75.27 a barrel. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU 10,466, +1.13, +0.01%) rose 12 points. Exxon Mobil (XOM 68.36, -0.21, -0.31%) rose a nickel to $68.62. Soleil Securities on Wednesday downgraded shares of Exxon Mobil Corp. [s: xom] to hold from buy. Analyst Jacques Rousseau cited lower crude oil prices and refining margins, partially offset by higher natural gas prices. Over the past month, the NYMEX forward curve prices for crude oil have fallen by about 5%, while U.S. natural gas prices have gained 5% and refining margins have dropped 6%, on average for 2010-2012, he noted. He now expects the oil giant to earn $1.15 a share in its fourth quarter, down from his earlier forecast of $1.25 a share. He cut his price target on the stock to $79 a share from $85 a share. Soleil kept its buy rating on Chevron (CVX 77.54, +0.05, +0.07%) and reiterated hold ratings on ConocoPhillips (COP 50.48, -0.36, -0.71%) and Marathon Oil (MRO 31.43, -0.11, -0.35%) . Chevron shares rose 4 cents to $77.53. ConocoPhillips dipped 12 cents to $50.72. Marathon Oil rose 2 cents to $31.56.

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