09:11 AM EDT, 03/27/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were up pre-bell Wednesday, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.3%.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 0.5% lower and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was down 3.5%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 0.6% at $81.16 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea crude oil lost 0.7% to reach $85.68 per barrel, and natural gas futures were down 1.6% at $1.76 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Matador Resources ( MTDR ) was marginally higher after it priced a $900 million private offering of 6.5% senior unsecured notes due 2032 at 100% face value.