09:06 AM EDT, 10/15/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were advancing pre-bell Wednesday, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) 0.9% higher.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 1.1% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1.4% lower.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 1.1% higher at $59.34 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.9% to $62.97 per barrel. Natural gas futures were down 1.6% at $2.980 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Halliburton ( HAL ) shares were up nearly 3% after the company said it has been awarded multiple contracts by Petrobras (PBR) to provide vessel stimulation, intelligent completions and safety valves in Brazil's deep-water fields.