09:07 AM EDT, 08/22/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher pre-bell Friday, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) advancing by 0.3%.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was 0.4% higher and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was down 2%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.2% higher at $63.63 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.1% to $67.69 per barrel, and natural gas futures were down 2.2% at $2.76 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Cenovus Energy ( CVE ) shares were up more than 1% after the company said it will acquire MEG Energy in a cash-and-stock deal worth 7.9 billion Canadian dollars ($5.68 billion), including assumed debt.

Fluence Energy ( FLNC ) stock was 0.9% higher after the company said it has started producing thermal management systems, including HVAC and chiller equipment, for its battery energy storage systems at a new manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas.