09:26 AM EST, 12/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks edged higher pre-bell Wednesday, with The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) up 0.1%.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was up 0.5% and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was 0.4% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.9% higher at $70.73 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.7% to reach $73.72 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 2.5% at $3.39 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Oil States International ( OIS ) shares were up over 3% after the company said it closed the sale of an idled Houston Ship Channel facility, generating $24.8 million in net proceeds.

TechnipFMC ( FTI ) shares were up more than 1% after the company said it won a "substantial" contract from Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production, a subsidiary of Shell, to provide subsea systems for the Bonga North project in Nigeria.

Shell's (SHEL) BG International unit targets to submit a drilling plan to Suriname's environmental agency for up to four exploration wells at offshore Block 65, Reuters reported, citing a company document submitted for public consultation. Shell shares were 0.4% higher premarket.