09:27 AM EDT, 03/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher premarket Monday with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) recently advancing nearly 0.1%.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was up 1% and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was 1.6% lower.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 1.1% at $67.90 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 1.1% to $71.33 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 1.7% lower at $4.04 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Chord Energy ( CHRD ) said late Friday it appointed Lara Kroll as chief accounting officer, effective March 15. Chord Energy ( CHRD ) shares were almost 3% higher pre-bell.

Barnwell Industries ( BRN ) shares were up past 4% after the company said it sold its Water Resources International subsidiary, a company specializing in groundwater exploration and development in Hawaii, for $1.1 million.

Excelerate Energy ( EE ) and Petrovietnam Gas Joint Stock Corporation, a unit of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, announced plans to collaborate on securing a reliable and stable supply of liquefied natural gas sourced from the US as early as 2026. Excelerate Energy ( EE ) shares were nearly 3% lower premarket.