Crude oil in US and across the world hit highest marks in 8 weeks

Crude oil prices rose Friday to their highest level in 8 weeks and some Oklahoma energy stocks also had big gains in trading, one with a 10% increase for the day.

What sparked the jump in crude? Good U.S economic growth along with signs of a Chinese stimulus. It boosted demand expectations and at the sametime, the Middle East supply concerns added support.

Global benchmark Brent crude went up $1.12 or 1.4% per barrel and finished at $83.55, its highest close since Nov. 30, of last year.

February natural gas rose 14 cents to $2.71 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Friday was another strong day for Oklahoma energy stocks with two firms seeing significant gains…Empire Petroleum at nearly 10% and NGL Energy Partners at more than 5%.

Other energy stocks also made gains. Here’s the latest from the Texas Energy Report.

APA Corp. (Apache) (APA) up 0.07 at 32.11 – change 0.21%

Cheniere (LNG) up 3.48 at 167.72 – change 2.11%

Chevron (CVX) up 0.56 at 149.13 – change 0.38%

ConocoPhillips (COP) up 0.18 at 112.23 – change 0.16%

Diamondback Energy (FANG) down 0.08 at 156.24 – change 0.06%

Energy Transfer LP (ET) up 0.18 at 14.46 – change 1.26%

Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) up 0.10 at 27.41 – change 0.36%

EOG Resources (EOG) up 0.69 at 115.54 – change 0.60%

Exxon Mobil (XOM) up 0.87 at 103.00 – change 0.85%

Kinder Morgan (KMI) up 0.11 at 17.44 – change 0.63%

Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO) up 0.08 at 23.21 – change 0.34%

NOV Inc. (NOV) unchanged at 20.98 – change 0.00%

Occidental Petroleum (OXY) up 0.39 at 58.40 – change 0.67%

Phillips 66 (PSX) up 2.57 at 140.22 – change 1.86%

Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) up 2.17 at 230.44 – change 0.95%

Tellurian Inc. (TELL) up 0.02 at 0.55 – change 5.72%

Valero (VLO) up 3.45 at 137.91 – change 2.56%

CLOSING TOP UTILITY STOCKS

American Electric Power (AEP) down 0.25 at 77.84 – change 0.33%

CenterPoint (CNP) up 0.05 at 27.57 – change 0.18%

Entergy (ETR) up 0.23 at 99.31 – change 0.23%