Energy stocks climb as crude prices rise on prolonged Iran conflict

S&P 500 energy index .SPNY up 1.2%, tracking higher crude prices O/R

Brent crude futures LCOc1 up 1.7% at $110.48 a barrel; U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 gains 3.4% to $99.40 a barrel

Crude prices rise as the three-week-old Iran war shows no signs of abating with the U.S. preparing to send thousands of additional troops to the Middle East in coming weeks

Energy major Chevron CVX.N gains 1.3%

APA Corp APA.O, ONEOK OKE.N , Exxon Mobil XOM.N , and Occidental Petroleum OXY.N gain between 2.3% and 2.7% - among the top percentage gainers on the energy index

Diamondback Energy FANG.O up 1.6%, Devon Energy DVN.N gains 0.7% and Coterra Energy CTRA.N rises ~1%