09:24 AM EDT, 08/14/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher pre-bell Friday, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF ( XLE ) advancing by 0.3%.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was down 0.2% and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was 0.8% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.1% higher at $81.31 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil fell marginally to $87.05 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 0.9% at $2.75 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Diversified Energy ( DEC ) is in preliminary talks to acquire Birch Resources, which operates in the Permian Basin, Reuters reported, citing a Diversified Energy ( DEC ) statement. Shares of Diversified Energy ( DEC ) were up more than 2% premarket.

BP (BP) received an exploration and production license for phase 2 of the Loran offshore gas field in Venezuela's Plataforma Deltana area with an estimated 4 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas resources, the company said. Shares of BP were 0.3% higher pre-bell.

Eni (E) and its partners have submitted an application for an Argentinian liquefied natural gas project to join the so-called Large Investment Incentive Regime, which is designed to promote investments in the South American nation's strategic sectors, Eni said. Eni shares were up 0.1% premarket.