09:20 AM EST, 03/05/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were declining premarket Wednesday, with The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) down 1%.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was down 2.6% and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was 0.8% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 2.4% at $66.62 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil lost 1.8% to reach $69.73 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 1.7% higher at $4.42 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Ecopetrol ( EC ) shares were up over 3% after the company reported lower Q4 net income and revenue that still topped analysts' expectations.

VAALCO Energy ( EGY ) shares were 0.5% higher after the company said it has entered a new six-year revolving credit facility with an initial commitment of $190 million that can go up to $300 million.

Liberty Energy (LBRT) said it has acquired IMG Energy Solutions, which develops distributed power systems. Liberty Energy shares were down 0.7% pre-bell.