09:08 AM EDT, 09/03/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were declining pre-bell Wednesday, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) down 1%.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 1.8% lower and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was up 3.8%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 1.8% lower at $64.44 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil lost 1.6% to $68.05 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 3.4% at $3.11 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

S&P Dow Jones Indices said TechnipFMC ( FTI ) will replace Skechers USA ( SKX ) in the S&P MidCap 400, effective Sept. 12, as 3G Capital's acquisition of Skechers is expected to be completed soon. TechnipFMC ( FTI ) shares were up more than 4% premarket.