Shares of energy companies rose as investors rotated out of growth sectors and into sectors with lower valuations.
The Energy Select Sector SPDR fund, which tracks the energy industry group of Standard & Poor's 500, closed near its highs of the year.
The number of rigs drilling for oil in the U.S. fell by one in the latest week to 305, according to oil-field services company Baker Hughes, as frigid weather in the oil-producing state of Texas interrupted a recovery in activity.
The ice and snow was thawing in Texas Friday, and warmer weather is forecast for the weekend. Still, millions of Texans are facing "boil orders" for their water as processing plants struggle with the ripple effects of power outages.
Natural gas prices futures ticked down on the session but garnered the fourth straight weekly increase.
Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
02-19-21 1643ET
