09:21 AM EDT, 10/04/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher premarket Friday with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) up 0.7% recently.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was up 0.6% and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was 2.4% lower.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.4% at $73.99 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.5% to $77.98 per barrel, and natural gas futures were down almost 2% at $2.91 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Solaris Energy Infrastructure ( SEI ) said Chief Operating Officer Kelly Price will retire, effective Dec. 31. Solaris shares fell past 18% pre-bell.

Martin Midstream Partners ( MMLP ) shares were up over 9% after the company said it has agreed that Martin Resource Management will acquire all of its remaining outstanding shares in an all-cash deal for $4.02 per common unit.

Ecopetrol ( EC ) discovered an offshore natural gas deposit with potential production of 800 million cubic feet a day, Bloomberg reported, citing Chief Executive Ricardo Roa. Ecopetrol ( EC ) shares were up more than 1% premarket.