By Jim Jelter
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Oil and gas stocks opened Friday with a set of modest gains, riding an overnight reversal in crude-oil prices and a U.S. jobs report that held no unpleasant surprises. Early trades sent the NYSA Arcca Oil Index (XOI 883.07, +3.36, +0.38%) 0.7% higher to 886 points while the NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index (XNG 481.25, +1.26, +0.26%) rose 0.5% to 482 points and Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index (OSX 166.88, +1.86, +1.13%) was up 0.8% at 166 points. European-based Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A 50.27, +0.74, +1.49%) and Total SA (TOT 45.79, +0.70, +1.55%) were leading percentage gainers in the oil group, both up 1.6%. Crude for August delivery was last off 10 cents at $72.85 a barrel in New York after trading as high as $73.38.
