Energy index hits record high as oil rally lifts sector

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Today 14:56

Updates
** S&P 500 energy index .SPNY hits record high, tracking higher crude prices, last up 1.4% O/R
** Brent crude futures LCOc1 up 2.2% at $117.41/barrel, on course to finish over 13% higher for the month
** US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 climbed 2.04% to $104.8/barrel, heading for a monthly jump of about 15%
** Prices rise as fears of an escalation in the US-Iran conflict and a tanker attack in the Strait of Hormuz heighten supply concerns
** Phillips 66 PSX.N, Valero Energy VLO.N, Marathon Petroleum MPC.N and Diamondback Energy FANG.O gain between 2.2% and 2.7%, among the top percentage gainers on the energy index
** Energy majors: ExxonMobil XOM.N up 1.4% and Chevron CVX.N rises 1.9%
** Separately, XOM and CVX beat Q3 profit estimates as surging refining margins boosted earnings from their fuel-making businesses
** Oilfield services companies: Baker Hughes BKR.O up ~2% and Halliburton HAL.N gains 1.4%
** ConocoPhillips COP.N, EOG Resources EOG.N, Occidental Petroleum OXY.N and EQT Corp EQT.N up between 1% and 1.9%    

 (Reporting by Sumit Saha in Bengaluru)
 ((Sumit.Saha@thomsonreuters.com;))