09:23 AM EDT, 09/23/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher premarket Monday, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) up 0.2%.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was slightly lower and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was up 1.8%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.2% at $71.15 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.1% to reach $74.55 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 3.1% at $2.51 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Matador Resources ( MTDR ) shares were up more than 1% after the company priced a private offering of $750 million of 6.25% senior unsecured notes due 2033 at 100% of their face value.

Equinor ( EQNR ) said it will no longer pursue plans to export hydrogen from Norway to Germany because the pipeline project is not deemed viable. Equinor ( EQNR ) shares were 0.7% higher pre-bell.