09:04 AM EDT, 07/12/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were advancing premarket Friday with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.4% recently.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 0.2% higher and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was up 0.2%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.9% at $83.35 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.6% to $85.94 per barrel. Natural gas futures were up 0.4% at $2.278 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Martin Midstream Partners ( MMLP ) is not for sale, the general partner of the petroleum midstream company said late Thursday in response to a $4-per-unit buyout proposal by Nut Tree Capital and Caspian Capital. Martin Midstream Partners ( MMLP ) rose by 0.8% premarket.