08:48 AM EST, 12/27/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher pre-bell Friday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) recently advanced by 0.1%.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 1.1% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 2.9% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 1% higher at $70.31 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.9% to $73.90 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 3.7% at $3.85 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Shell (SHEL) said it shut down one of the oil processing units at its energy and chemicals park at Pulau Bukom to investigate a suspected leak detected Thursday. Shell shares were up 0.5% premarket.