09:19 AM EDT, 10/03/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher premarket Thursday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) recently advanced by 0.4%.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was up 1.2% and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was 1.1% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 2.4% at $71.79 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 2.2% to $75.53 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 2% at $2.94 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

FLEX LNG ( FLNG ) shares were 0.9% higher after the company said it has completed two previously announced financing deals totaling $430 million and has received net proceeds of around $97 million from these transactions.

Enbridge ( ENB ) said it will build, own and operate pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico for BP Exploration & Production's (BP) newly sanctioned Kaskida development. Enbridge ( ENB ) share were up 0.3% pre-bell.

CenterPoint Energy ( CNP ) said it reached an agreement with Neara, an artificial intelligence-based infrastructure modeling platform, to focus on the cost-effectiveness of investments and improve service. CenterPoint Energy ( CNP ) shares were 0.2% higher premarket.