MT Newswires -ShutterstockEnergy stocks advanced 1% at midday Friday. Woodside Energy Group (ASX:WDS) gained more than 2% in recent trade despite failing to convince Western Australia's Supreme Court to force environmental activists to furnish documents related to the planning of a stench gas protest at the company's Perth office in 2023. Meanwhile, the information technology sector struggled, shedding more than 2%. Xero (ASX:XRO) shares fell past 2% in recent trade.