09:00 AM EST, 12/13/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher premarket Friday with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) recently up 0.3%.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 0.5% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 2.4% lower.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.7% higher at $70.49 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.6% to $73.87 per barrel, and natural gas futures were down 1.4% at $3.41 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Expro Group Holdings ( XPRO ) shares advanced by 0.9% after the company said it has extended its 2023 stock repurchase program through Nov. 24, 2025.