Energy stocks gain on signs of strong demand, investors await OPEC+ output decision

** S&P 500 energy index .SPNY up 0.6%, tracking higher crude prices O/R

** Brent Crude futures LCOc1 up 0.7% at $67.22/barrel; U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rise 0.9% to $65.70/barrel

** Crude prices rise as investors take stock of positive demand indicators, while also treading cautiously ahead of an OPEC+ meeting to decide the group's August output policy

** Energy majors Chevron CVX.N and Exxon Mobil XOM.N up 1.5% and 1.1%, respectively

** Halliburton HAL.N, SLB SLB.N, APA Corp APA.O and Phillips 66 PSX.N rise between 3.8% and 4.7%; among the top percentage gainers on the energy index

** Oilfield services company Baker Hughes BKR.O up ~1%

** Refiners Marathon Petroleum MPC.N and HF Sinclair DINO.N up 2.6% and 2.2%, respectively