09:10 AM EDT, 06/20/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks rose pre-bell Thursday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) was up 0.3% recently.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 0.6% higher and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was down 2%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.7% at $81.25 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.8% to $85.78 per barrel, and natural gas futures were down 2.5% at $2.84 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Sasol ( SSL ) shares advanced nearly 5% after the company said the High Court of South Africa ordered Transnet SOC to pay Sasol Oil and TotalEnergies' (TTE) Marketing around 6.2 billion South African rand ($340 million) in damages plus interest over a tariff dispute.