09:07 AM EST, 01/28/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were advancing pre-bell Wednesday, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) up 0.3%.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 1.3% higher and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was down 3%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 1.4% at $63.24 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 1.1% to $68.28 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 12.1% lower at $6.11 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

SM Energy ( SM ) and Civitas Resources ( CIVI ) shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favor of their all-stock merger, which is expected to close on Friday. Shares of SM Energy ( SM ) and Civitas Resources ( CIVI ) were up more than 1% premarket.