09:24 AM EDT, 06/20/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks rose pre-bell Thursday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) was up 0.4% recently.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was 0.8% higher and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was down 2.4%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.7% at $81.33 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.9% to $85.88 per barrel, and natural gas futures were down 2.5% at $2.83 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Sasol ( SSL ) shares advanced by over 4% after the company said the High Court of South Africa ordered Transnet SOC to pay Sasol Oil and TotalEnergies' (TTE) Marketing around 6.2 billion South African rand ($340 million) in damages plus interest over a tariff dispute.

BP (BP) has agreed to take full ownership of BP Bunge Bioenergia, its Brazilian biofuels joint venture, acquiring Bunge's (BG) 50% interest, the company said. BP shares were 0.5% higher premarket.