08:59 AM EDT, 03/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks declined premarket Friday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) recently fell by 0.3%.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down 0.2% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.9% lower.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 0.1% at $67.98 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil lost 0.3% to $71.80 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 0.4% higher at $3.99 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

BP (BP) and Apollo Global Management ( APO ) said they reached an agreement for Apollo-managed funds to purchase a 25% non-controlling stake in BP's 12% interest in the pipeline carrying natural gas from Azerbaijan through Turkey. BP shares were 0.3% lower pre-bell.