Energy Stocks, Crude Oil Higher This Afternoon; Union Drilling Soars On Reversing Year-Ago Net Loss, Surprises Street

Top Energy StocksXOM +1.9%, near year highsCVX +2.0%, near year highsCOP +2%SLB +2.5%OXY +3.9%Energy stocks are higher this afternoon with the NYSE EnergySector Index climbing nearly 3.0% on positive sentiment after theLabor Department reported a surprise net increase in new job hiresduring July. The S&P Energy Index is up about 2.8% with crudeoil for September delivery up nearly 4%, climbing