09:00 AM EST, 11/07/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were advancing pre-bell Thursday, with The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) 0.2% higher.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down 0.6% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.9% lower.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.3% lower at $71.45 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil lost 0.2% to reach $74.81 per barrel, and natural gas futures were down 1.3% at $2.71 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Murphy Oil ( MUR ) shares were up over 2% after the company reported lower Q3 adjusted net income from continuing operations and revenue that still topped analysts' expectations.