Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $47.08 per barrel at 0537 GMT, up 37 cents, or 0.8 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $44.60 per barrel, up 37 cents, or 0.8 percent.

Because two major crude oil price benchmarks, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent, account for 70% of the weighting in the S&P GSCI energy index, the energy index tends to follow major price movements in the crude oil market. During the first half of 2017, WTI crude oil prices declined by 12%, while Brent prices fell 14%.

The August light, sweet crude contract on NYMEX dropped $1.94 on July 5 to settle at $45.13/bbl. The September contract was down $1.95 to close at $45.34/bbl. The NYMEX natural gas price for August declined 11¢ to a rounded $2.84/MMbtu. The Henry Hub cash gas price was $2.90/MMbtu on July 5, down 4¢ from June 30, the last available price for the US gas spot price. The Brent crude contract for September on London’s ICE decreased $1.82 to $47.79/bbl while the October contract dropped $1.83 to $48.07/bbl. The July gas oil contract was down $6.75 to $442.25/tonne. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ basket of crudes on July 5 was $47.04/bbl, down 53¢.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries produced 32.49 million b/d in June—an increase of 220,000 b/d from May and representing a 6-month high.

In the report -- trailed in May at the Flame conference in Amsterdam -- the IGU also confirmed that the average global wholesale gas price averaged just $3.35/MMBtu in 2016, the lowest price in any survey done by the IGU since it started in 2005.

One big reason is that natural gas prices have recovered from 20-year lows, nearly doubling since last year, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $49.55 per barrel at 0456 GMT, down 6 cents, or 0.1 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $46.99 per barrel, down 8 cents, or 0.2 percent.

Brent crude futures had climbed 13 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $48.90 per barrel by 0643 GMT, after jumping 5.2 percent last week in their first weekly gain in six weeks. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 17 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $46.21 per barrel, adding to last week's 7-percent gain.

The August light, sweet crude contract on NYMEX gained 50¢ on June 28 to settle at $44.74/bbl. The September contract was up 50¢ to close at $44.99/bbl. The NYMEX natural gas price for July gained 3¢ to a rounded $3.07/MMbtu. The Henry Hub cash gas price also gained 3¢ to $3.01/MMbtu. The Brent crude contract for August on London’s ICE increased 66¢ to $47.31/bbl while the September contract climbed 62¢ to $47.54/bbl. The July gas oil contract gained $4.25 to $427.50/tonne. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ basket of crudes on June 28 was $44.48/bbl, up 25¢.

Near-curve contracts are seen edging higher on crude gains. On the spot, the Dutch TTF day-ahead was trading at Eur15.30/MWh, down 2.5 euro cent/MWh from Wednesday's close. German prices were also seen ticking down, with the NCG spot contract down 15 euro cent at Eur15.65/MWh, while the GASPOOL spot was 2.5 euro cent lower at Eur15.40/MWh.