09:05 AM EDT, 07/24/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher pre-bell Wednesday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) was recently advancing by 0.3%.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 0.6% higher and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) fell 3.8%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up almost 1% at $77.72 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.8% to $81.65 per barrel, and natural gas futures were down 3.5% at $2.11 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Matador Resources ( MTDR ) was up over 2% after it reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue.