New York, February 14, 2026, 13:07 EST — Market closed
- Energy stocks in the U.S. finished Friday in the green. Crude, though, remains lower for the week, with supply headlines continuing to stack up.
- OPEC+ is moving closer to resuming oil output hikes starting in April, as a decision is expected by March 1.
- With Washington loosening energy sanctions on Venezuela, another supply wildcard enters the mix as U.S. markets get set to reopen.
U.S. energy shares wrapped up the week with gains, though the sector now faces a holiday-shortened period shadowed by new OPEC+ supply cues that could steer crude prices. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE), a main barometer for American energy stocks, advanced 0.7% Friday, ending the session at $54.35.
This week’s calendar is tight: U.S. stock markets close Monday for Washington’s Birthday—Presidents Day—then reopen Tuesday. That shortens the trading window, giving energy traders little space to react if oil prices start moving on headlines again.
Rate bets are baked in. U.S. consumer prices edged up 0.2% for January, with a 2.4% annual increase. Core CPI, which strips out food and energy, notched a 2.5% year-over-year gain — the mildest in close to five years, Labor Department figures show.
Crude eked out a modest gain Friday—Brent finished at $67.75 a barrel, U.S. West Texas Intermediate at $62.89. Both fell over the week, according to Reuters. “Looks like inflation is stabilizing,” said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial, who pointed to extra OPEC supply as the major offset. Reuters
The counterweight turned up the volume Friday. OPEC+, which ropes in Russia alongside the core cartel, is now eyeing a return to boosting oil output as soon as April, according to three OPEC+ sources speaking with Reuters. Eight producers are on the calendar for a March 1 meeting. “Starting from around March and April, demand is gradually increasing,” Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said. Reuters
The demand outlook showed up once more. The International Energy Agency’s latest monthly report projects oil demand will grow by 850,000 barrels a day in 2026, but even so, the market isn’t out of the woods: the IEA says supply is on track to outpace demand by 3.73 million barrels per day.
Policy shifted as well, reaching beyond just oil output. On Friday, the U.S. relaxed sanctions on Venezuela’s energy industry, opening the door for Chevron, BP, Eni, Shell and Repsol to resume work on oil and gas projects. Some payments will be directed into a U.S.-controlled deposit fund. “Important steps toward enabling the further development of Venezuela’s resources,” said a spokesperson for Chevron in a statement. Reuters
Energy stocks headed in different directions ahead of the weekend. BP’s U.S. shares tacked on 1.3% Friday. Exxon Mobil, on the other hand, slipped around 1.0%, MarketWatch data showed.
The risk? It’s right there. Should OPEC+ move forward with fresh quota hikes, and if that IEA surplus outlook actually materializes in inventory data, oil prices could tumble. Energy stocks might not hold up either. Toss in a quick thaw between the U.S. and Iran, and traders would likely watch the so-called “geopolitical premium” – those conflict-driven dollars on every barrel – fade fast.
Thursday, Feb. 19, is up next—that’s when the U.S. Energy Information Administration drops its Weekly Petroleum Status Report, pushed back thanks to the Feb. 16 federal holiday closure. Looking past that, the next big date for energy: March 1, when OPEC+ gathers to hash out whether April production hikes are back in play.
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