Energy stocks were edging higher premarket Monday, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) advancing by 0.1%.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down 0.7% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 2.7% higher.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.8% at $58.99 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.8% to $62.88 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 1% lower at $4.90 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Shell (SHEL) and Equinor (EQNR) said they closed a deal to combine their UK offshore oil and gas operations to establish a new company. Shares of Shell were 0.7% higher pre-bell.