08:57 AM EDT, 05/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were advancing pre-bell Friday, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) recently up 0.3%.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 0.6% higher, and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was up 1.9%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.4% at $79.55 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark Brent gained 0.2% to $83.43 per barrel, and natural-gas futures were up 2% at $2.54 per 1 million BTU.

Hess (HES) shareholders have been advised by proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis to vote in favor of Chevron's ( CVX ) proposed $53 billion all-stock acquisition, multiple news outlets reported. Hess and Chevron ( CVX ) were up 0.2% premarket.