09:08 AM EDT, 05/09/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks rose pre-bell Friday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) advanced by 1.2% recently.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 1.3% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 2.8% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 1.7% at $60.94 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 1.6% to $63.87 per barrel. Natural gas futures were 2.8% higher at $4.044 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

BP (BP) may be at risk of a takeover after a significant drop in its share price left the UK energy giant undervalued, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. BP shares were up nearly 3% premarket.