09:03 AM EST, 12/03/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were advancing premarket Tuesday, with The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) 0.4% higher.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 1.8% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 2% lower.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 1.7% higher at $69.23 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 1.6% to reach $72.96 per barrel, and natural gas futures were down 2.5% at $3.13 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

TotalEnergies (TTE) is close to acquiring VSB Group from private equity firm Partners Group Holding for 2 billion euros ($2.10 billion), Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. TotalEnergies shares were up over 1% premarket.