09:22 AM EDT, 06/11/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were lower in pre-bell activity Tuesday, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) down 0.1%.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was 0.2% lower and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was up 3.7%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.2% at $77.88 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.3% to reach $81.85 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 5.1% at $3.05 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Scorpio Tankers ( SBBA ) shares were down more than 3% after the company said it agreed to sell five of its medium-range tankers for $179.1 million to separate buyers.

Woodside Energy Group ( WDS ) said it has achieved first oil from the Sangomar field offshore Senegal. Woodside Energy ( WDS ) stock was more than 1% lower premarket.