09:06 AM EDT, 08/22/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher pre-bell Friday, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) advancing by 0.3%.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 0.3% higher and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was down 1.9%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.2% higher at $63.67 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.1% to $67.75 per barrel, and natural gas futures were down 2.3% at $2.76 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Cenovus Energy ( CVE ) shares were up more than 1% after the company said it will acquire MEG Energy in a cash-and-stock deal worth 7.9 billion Canadian dollars ($5.68 billion), including assumed debt.