09:01 AM EDT, 10/03/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher premarket Thursday, with The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.3%.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 1% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.8% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 2% at $71.52 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 1.9% to $75.27 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 1.8% at $2.94 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

FLEX LNG ( FLNG ) shares were nearly 1% higher after the company said it has completed two previously announced financing deals totaling $430 million and has received net proceeds of around $97 million from these transactions.