Three straight days of losses for crude oil prices

Crude oil prices dropped Wednesday for a third straight day this week and Oklahoma energy stocks suffered as well.

The declines came as investors responded in kind when Fed officials indicated there might be a delay in any possible interest rate cuts. As a result, higher rates mean tighter money for economic growth and any demand for oil.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.09 or 1.39% to close at $77.57 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The global benchmark, Brent crude finished down 98 cents or 1.18% at $81.90 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe.

A day of losses for most Oklahoma energy stocks. Helmerich & Payne led the way with a 4% drop. But Empire Petroleum was the bright spot with a more than 3% gain.

It was also a down day for other energy stocks, according to the Texas Energy Report.

APA Corp. (Apache) (APA) down 0.59 at 30.13 – change 1.93%

Cheniere (LNG) down 0.96 at 158.88 – change 0.61%

Chevron (CVX) down 2.40 at 157.57 – change 1.51%

ConocoPhillips (COP) down 2.23 at 118.19 – change 1.85%

Diamondback Energy (FANG) down 4.22 at 192.34 – change 2.15%

Energy Transfer LP (ET) down 0.20 at 15.73 – change 1.26%

Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) down 0.25 at 28.43 – change 0.88%

EOG Resources (EOG) down 2.85 at 126.05 – change 2.22%

Exxon Mobil (XOM) down 2.37 at 115.48 – change 2.02%

Kinder Morgan (KMI) down 0.35 at 19.39 – change 1.78%

Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO) down 0.41 at 25.88 – change 1.56%

NOV Inc. (NOV) down 0.87 at 18.23 – change 4.56%

Occidental Petroleum (OXY) down 0.69 at 62.66 – change 1.09%

Phillips 66 (PSX) down 1.24 at 142.90 – change 0.87%

Tellurian Inc. (TELL) down 0.04 at 0.53 – change 5.37%

Valero (VLO) down 0.39 at 162.00 – change 0.25%

CLOSING TOP UTILITY STOCKS

American Electric Power (AEP) down 1.14 at 91.48 – change 1.24%

CenterPoint (CNP) down 0.35 at 30.06 – change 1.16%

Entergy (ETR) down 1.52 at 112.70 – change 1.34%