NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The NYSE Arca Oil Index (XOI 1,072, +17.43, +1.65%) of the world's largest publicly traded oil producers rose 1.1% to 1,066, a new high for 2009, as energy stocks gained with the broad market and crude futures prices. The rise comes amid fresh deal talk in the sector, with a report from the Wall Street Journal that Chinese oil giant CNOOC (CEO 145.47, -0.12, -0.08%) will bid on offshore oil fields in Ghana in a challenge to Exxon Mobil (XOM 70.02, +0.75, +1.08%) . Shares of Exxon Mobil rose 33 cents to $69.60. Crude futures prices rose $1.72 to $73.49. The NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index (XNG 530.75, +8.75, +1.68%) rose 1.2% to 529. The Philadelphia Oil Service Index (OSX 203.91, +4.40, +2.21%) rose 1.8% to 203.
