Sector Update: Energy Stocks Advance Pre-Bell Thursday

09:25 AM EDT, 10/22/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were advancing premarket Thursday, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) 1.1% higher. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 2.2% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.4% higher. Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 2.6% higher at $99.66 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil rose 3.1% to $112.16 per barrel, and natural gas futures were down 0.1% at $2.79 per 1 million British Thermal Units. Kinder Morgan (KMI) shares were up 1% after the company posted higher Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue. Valero Energy (VLO) stock was up more than 1% after the company reported higher Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue. Eni (E) is in early-stage talks with XRG, the international investment arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil, on a potential sale of a stake in its oil and gas business in Libya, Reuters reported, citing two people familiar with the matter. Eni stock was 0.5% higher pre-bell.