Correction, 9/21/2026. The percentage moves in this report were measured from each session's opening price to its close, not from the previous session's close, which is how a daily change is normally stated. The figures in the text are those open-to-close moves. The tables now label them as such and add each name's daily change against the prior close. Measured against the prior close, 3 of the 19 names in the tables moved in the opposite direction from the one given in the text: XOP (printed +0.62%, daily change -0.08%); SHEL (printed +0.09%, daily change -1.28%); FCX (printed -0.39%, daily change +0.70%). Closing prices are unaffected and were correct as published.
The energy sector closed Monday's session with sharp internal divisions, as conventional oil and gas producers rallied decisively while clean energy technologies and uranium miners retreated, creating one of the most pronounced bifurcations in recent weeks. Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) advanced +0.67%, lifted primarily by strength in integrated majors and exploration-focused producers, even as renewable and nuclear subsectors faced sustained pressure.
Oil and Gas Strength Dominates
Traditional hydrocarbon equities delivered the session's strongest performance, with both integrated majors and independent producers posting solid gains. ExxonMobil (XOM) climbed +0.68% to close at $148.36, while Chevron (CVX) advanced +1.24% to $189.71. The rally extended across the Atlantic, with Shell plc (SHEL) rising +0.09% and BP plc (BP) gaining +0.86%.
Independent producers showed similar momentum, as ConocoPhillips (COP) advanced +1.67% and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) rose +1.81%. The SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration (XOP), which tracks smaller exploration and production companies, climbed +0.62%, outpacing the broader energy sector and signaling broad-based confidence in conventional production assets.
The coordinated strength across integrated majors, independents, and exploration-focused names suggests investors are rotating capital toward traditional hydrocarbon exposure, potentially responding to supply dynamics or shifting sentiment around energy transition timelines.
Clean Energy Technologies Under Pressure
In stark contrast to the oil and gas rally, renewable energy equities faced widespread selling. Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) declined -2.53%, while iShares Global Clean Energy (ICLN) fell -2.10%, marking a continuation of recent weakness in the solar and wind subsectors. The divergence between conventional and renewable energy assets has widened notably over the past week, with clean technology names unable to participate in the broader sector's advance.
Battery and lithium-focused equities also retreated, as Global X Lithium & Battery Tech (LIT) slipped -0.80%, reflecting ongoing concerns about demand growth and supply chain dynamics in the electric vehicle value chain. The weakness in both solar and battery technologies suggests investors are reassessing near-term growth expectations for electrification infrastructure.
Uranium and Nuclear Fuel Decline
Nuclear fuel equities extended their recent retreat, with Global X Uranium ETF (URA) falling -0.32%. Cameco (CCJ), the sector's bellwether, declined -0.67% to $84.85, continuing a pullback from recent highs despite longer-term optimism around nuclear power's role in baseload generation and decarbonization efforts.
The uranium sector's weakness stands in contrast to its outperformance earlier this month, when nuclear fuel names rallied even as broader energy equities declined. Monday's reversal suggests profit-taking or a reassessment of near-term catalysts in the nuclear fuel complex.
