By Jim Jelter
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Oil and gas stocks moved lower at the open Monday as crude-oil prices slipped on the diminishing threat of hurricane Alex to the Gulf of Mexico. The NYSE Arca Oil Index (XOI 918.88, -3.43, -0.37%) was off 0.3% at 919.9 points, the NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index (XNG 505.46, -6.42, -1.25%) was off 1.1% at 506.9 points, and the Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index (OSX 172.11, -1.10, -0.64%) was down 0.5% at 172.3 points. BP PLC shares (BP 27.55, +0.53, +1.96%) were among the oil sector's few gainers, up 1.6% at $27.42 a share as it appeared tropical storm Alex, churning off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, would steer clear of BP's efforts to contain its huge Gulf oil spill. Crude for August delivery was last down 91 cents at $77.95 a barrel in New York.
