US energy stocks rise as oil surges above $119 a barrel

S&P 500 energy index .SPNY up 1.2%, tracking surging crude prices as the Middle East conflict escalates

Brent crude futures LCOc1 jump 3.6% to $111.19 per barrel after hitting a session high of $119.13 per barrel O/R

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 rise 0.6% to $96.89 a barrel; discount to Brent largest in 11 years as releases from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve and higher freight costs pressure prices

Energy major Chevron CVX.N up ~1%

APA Corp APA.O, Expand Energy EXE.O, ONEOK OKE.N and Valero Energy VLO.N up between 3.1% and 4.7%, among the top percentage gainers on the energy index

Occidental Petroleum OXY.N gains 2.9%, Devon Energy DVN.N up 2.7% and EOG Resources EOG.N rises 1.3%

Oilfield services company Baker Hughes BKR.O up ~2%, SLB SLB.N rises 1.6%

Refiners: Marathon Petroleum MPC.N up 2.5%, Phillips 66 PSX.N gains ~3%