09:28 AM EDT, 09/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were advancing slightly pre-bell Thursday, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) edging up 0.04%.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was 0.2% higher and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was down 0.7%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.1% higher at $63.78 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.2% to $68.08 per barrel. Natural gas futures were down 2.1% at $3.036 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) chief executive officer Darren Woods calls for the European Union's corporate sustainability due diligence directive to be revoked entirely, and warns that the regulation will cause more businesses to leave the continent, Reuters reported, citing Woods. Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) shares were 0.1% lower premarket.

Kodiak Gas Services ( KGS ) shares were up 1.6% after the company said its subsidiary has launched another $200 million worth of 6.5% senior unsecured notes due 2033 through a private offering under its debt from Sept. 5.