09:13 AM EST, 12/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher premarket Friday, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) advancing by 0.1%.

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

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.9% at $56.67 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.9% to $60.32 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 0.8% lower at $3.88 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Petroleo Brasileiro (PBR) shares were up 0.6% after the company said it signed new long-term commercial contracts with Braskem ( BAK ) ahead of the expiration of existing agreements.