Crude oil prices reach 4-month high in Wednesday’s trading

A four month high was hit by crude oil prices as they rose nearly 3% on Wednesday, thanks to a surprise withdrawal in U.S. crude inventories, including stocks at the Cushing Hub in Oklahoma.

Crude prices also responded to a bigger-than-expected drop in US gasoline stocks and possible supply disruptions after Ukrainian drones attacked Russian refineries.

West Texas Intermediate crude went up $2.16 or 2.8% per barrel and closed at $79.72 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Global benchmark Brent crude rose $2.11 or 2.65 and finished at $84.03 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe. It wasthe highest Brent close since Nov. 6.

April natural gas fell 5 cents to $1.66 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Gains were recorded by most Oklahoma energy stocks including 3% jumps for Empire Petroleum Corp. and Mach Natural Resources. SandRidge and Helmerich and Payne weren’t far behind.

The Texas Energy Report showed other energy stocks made gains for the day.

APA Corp. (Apache) (APA) up 1.12 at 32.56 – change 3.56%

Cheniere (LNG) up 0.42 at 156.83 – change 0.26%

Chevron (CVX) up 2.00 at 153.88 – change 1.31%

ConocoPhillips (COP) up 2.52 at 117.55 – change 2.19%

Diamondback Energy (FANG) up 3.04 at 187.56 – change 1.64%

Energy Transfer LP (ET) up 0.09 at 15.10 – change 0.59%

Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) up 0.30 at 28.77 – change 1.05%

EOG Resources (EOG) up 1.73 at 122.57 – change 1.43%

Exxon Mobil (XOM) up 1.21 at 109.53 – change 1.11%

Kinder Morgan (KMI) down 0.05 at 17.89 – change 0.28%

Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO) up 0.77 at 25.90 – change 3.06%

NOV Inc. (NOV) up 0.66 at 18.50 – change 3.69%

Occidental Petroleum (OXY) up 0.92 at 62.06 – change 1.50%

Phillips 66 (PSX) up 4.09 at 154.47 – change 1.72%

Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) up 2.34 at 245.73 – change 0.96%

Tellurian Inc. (TELL) up 0.05 at 0.91 – change 6.15%

Valero (VLO) up 7.90 at 158.63 – change 5.24%

CLOSING TOP UTILITY STOCKS

American Electric Power (AEP) down 0.39 at 83.00 – change 0.47%

CenterPoint (CNP) down 0.13 at 28.00 – change 0.47%

Entergy (ETR) up 0.22 at 102.99 – change 0.21%