09:18 AM EDT, 06/05/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were rising pre-bell Thursday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) was advancing by 0.6% recently.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was up 1.5% and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was 0.9% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 1.2% at $63.62 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 1.1% to $65.58 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 1.7% higher at $3.78 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Vermilion Energy ( VET ) shares were up 0.6% after the company said it has agreed to sell its US assets for $120 million in cash.

Petroleo Brasileiro (PBR) shares were more than 1% higher after the company said it submitted a declaration of interest for nine offshore exploratory blocks in the Ivory Coast.