09:05 AM EST, 03/03/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks advanced premarket Monday with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) 0.3% higher recently.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 0.1% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 2% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.6% at $70.16 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.6% to $73.24 per barrel. Natural gas futures were 1.5% higher at $3.893 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Shell (SHEL) is considering selling its chemical assets in Europe and the US, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Shell shares were over 1% higher pre-bell.