09:00 AM EST, 12/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks advanced premarket Thursday with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) almost 1% higher recently.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 1.4% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 2.2% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.6% higher at $70.98 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.3% to $73.60 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 2.9% at $3.47 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Woodside Energy Group ( WDS ) shares rose past 2% after the company said it has agreed to an asset swap with Chevron ( CVX ) for interests in certain liquefied natural gas assets as part of its effort to simplify its portfolio.