09:21 AM EST, 11/21/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher pre-bell Thursday with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) 0.8% higher recently.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was up 1.5% and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was 4.3% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 2% higher at $70.13 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 1.8% to $74.12 per barrel. Natural gas futures were up 6.7% at $3.407 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

ExxonMobil's ( XOM ) ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Suriname unit withdrew from Block 52 in the Surinamese offshore area, effective Nov. 14, Staatsolie, the country's national energy, oil, and gas company, said. Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) shares were 0.7% higher premarket.

Navigator Holdings ( NVGS ) shares were up 0.3% after the company said it has exercised an option to construct two more 48,500 cubic-meter capacity liquefied ethylene gas carriers with Jiangnan Shipyard and China Shipbuilding Trading.