Wall Street hit by Saudi attacks; energy stocks temper losses

U.S. stocks fell on Monday on global growth worries after weekend attacks on Saudi Arabia's crude facilities hit 5% of the world's supply, but a sharp surge in crude prices lifted beaten-down energy stocks and kept losses in check. The attack on the world's biggest oil exporter sent oil prices up more than 20% before they eased off their peaks as various nations said they would tap emergency reserves to ensure stable supplies. [O/R] The S&P 500 energy (SPNY), one of the worst performing sectors so far this year, soared 3.15%, looking at its best one-day gain since Jan. 4. Shares of Apache Corp (N:APA), Marathon Oil Corp (O:MRO) and Hess Corp (N:HES) jumped between 10% and 13% and were the leading gainers on the benchmark index.