US energy stocks gain as crude climbs on Mideast risks
BUZZ-US energy stocks gain as crude climbs on Mideast risks ** S&P 500 energy index .SPNY up 0.5%, tracking higher crude prices O/R
** Brent crude futures LCOc1 up 2.6% at $91.45/barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 rise 2.5% to $84.5/barrel
** Prices rise on fresh attacks exchanged by the U.S. and Iran as well as threats of a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthis
** Energy major Chevron CVX.N up marginally
** EOG Resources EOG.N, Texas Pacific TPL.N, Exxon Mobil XOM.N and APA Corp APA.O rise between 1.4% and 3%; among the top percentage gainers on the energy index
** Oil and gas producers: SM Energy SM.N up ~3% and Occidental Petroleum OXY.N gains 1.3%
** Refiners: Phillips 66 PSX.N and Marathon Petroleum MPC.N up 1.2% and 0.7%, respectively
(Reporting by Sumit Saha in Bengaluru)