09:26 AM EDT, 07/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher pre-bell Thursday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) was edging up 0.01% recently.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was 0.1% lower and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was up 0.8%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.4% higher at $65.43 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.2% to $68.68 per barrel. Natural gas futures were 1.5% higher at $3.639 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Kinder Morgan ( KMI ) shares were down 1% even after the company reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue.

BW LPG ( BWLP ) shares were 0.1% lower after the company said it closed two financing deals worth $595 million to support fleet renewal and reduce funding costs.

Helix Energy Solutions Group ( HLX ) shares were up more than 2% after the company said it has been chosen as a service provider for Danish power cables manufacturer NKT's T3600 Subsea Trencher under a four-year agreement.