09:10 AM EDT, 08/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were steady premarket Monday, with The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) marginally advancing.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 0.4% lower and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was up 2.4%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 0.5% at $76.26 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil lost 0.6% to reach $79.24 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 2.1% at $2.17 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Schlumberger ( SLB ) and Palo Alto Networks ( PANW ) are expanding their partnership to support cybersecurity for the energy industry, the companies said. Schlumberger ( SLB ) shares were 0.3% lower pre-bell, while Palo Alto Networks ( PANW ) stock was up 0.8%.