Energy stocks were higher this afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.4% while the SPDR Energy Select Sector ETF (XLE) was up 1.6%. West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising $0.49 to $88.25 per barrel while Henry Hub natural gas futures were $0.14 higher at $7.07 per 1 million BTU. In company news, SEACOR Marine (SMHI) raced nearly 14% higher after the offshore energy services company overnight announced the sale of its minority interests in several of its joint ventures in Mexico to majority owner Proyectos Globales de Energia for $66 million in cash.