09:01 AM EST, 01/10/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks rose pre-bell Friday with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) advancing by 1.4% recently.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 4.6% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 6% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 4% higher at $76.88 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 3.8% to $79.85 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 5.5% at $3.91 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Constellation Energy ( CEG ) shares rallied past 13% after the company said it has agreed to acquire Calpine in a cash and stock transaction valued at about $16.4 billion.