09:13 AM EST, 12/27/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher pre-bell Friday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) recently advanced by 0.1%.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was up 1.3% and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was 3.3% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 1% higher at $70.28 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.9% to $73.88 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 3.2% at $3.83 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Shell (SHEL) said it shut down one of the oil processing units at its energy and chemicals park at Pulau Bukom to investigate a suspected leak detected Thursday. Shell shares were up 0.5% premarket.

Seadrill ( SDRL ) shares were more than 1% after the company said it completed the sale of its jack-up rig, West Prospero, for $45 million.