Sector Update: Energy Stocks Rise Pre-Bell Thursday

09:26 AM EST, 11/12/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were rising pre-bell Thursday, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) advancing by 1%. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was marginally higher and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was up 1.9%. Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.7% lower at $86.27 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil rose 0.6% to $93.29 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 3.1% at $3.32 per 1 million British Thermal Units. Exxon Mobil (XOM) will be able to assess seven areas in Venezuela for potential oil and gas project development under a preliminary agreement with the Venezuelan government and state oil company PDVSA, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Exxon Mobil shares were up more than 1% premarket. Chevron (CVX) stock was up more than 1% after the company said it will restart its Ralston, Iowa, biodiesel facility following improved market conditions and a commercial agreement with Landus Cooperative. BP (BP) is in talks with Petrobras (PBR) to sell a stake in the Bumerangue oil block off the coast of Brazil, Bloomberg reported, people with the matter. BP shares were 0.4% higher pre-bell.