Energy stocks were leaning lower pre-bell Thursday, with The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) down 0.4%.
The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 1.3% lower and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was up 1.5%.
Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 1% lower at $67.72 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil lost 0.9% to reach $69.59 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 1.4% higher at $3.26 per 1 million British Thermal Units.
Mach Natural Resources (MNR) shares were up more than 2% after the company said it agreed to acquire oil and gas assets from Sabinal Energy and from entities managed by IKAV Energy for a combined $1.3 billion.