08:59 AM EST, 12/20/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher premarket Friday with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) up 0.1% recently.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down 0.4% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.4% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 2.4% at $68.86 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil lost 0.7% to $72.36 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 1.4% at $3.63 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) has increased its stake in Occidental Petroleum ( OXY ) , purchasing about $409.2 million in shares over the last three days, a regulatory filing showed. Occidental Petroleum ( OXY ) shares were up over 2% in recent premarket activity.