MW: Energy stocks open in narrow range as crude falls
By Jim Jelter
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Oil and gas stocks struggled to hold their ground at the open Thursday, pressured by crude-oil's retreat to near $74 a barrel and disappointing economic data. The NYSE Arca Oil Index (XOI 880.25, -3.37, -0.38%) was clinging to the slimmest of gains, up less than 0.1% at 884.07 points, with most of the support coming from BP PLC's (BP 29.71, +0.83, +2.87%) 2.7% advance to $29.67 a share. The NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index (XNG 478.65, -3.45, -0.72%) was off 0.4% at 480.29 and the Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index (OSX 163.95, -0.18, -0.11%) was down 0.2% at 163.72 points. August crude-oil futures were down $1.51 a barrel at $74.12 a barrel in New York.
