Energy stocks were declining pre-bell Thursday, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) 0.2% lower.
The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down 0.4% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.8% lower.
Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.6% higher at $73.99 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil rose 0.9% to $78.72 per barrel, and natural gas futures were down 0.6% at $3.19 per 1 million British Thermal Units.
Shell (SHEL) received valid tenders for about $6.3 billion of outstanding unregistered notes in its previously announced exchange offers, the oil giant said. Shares of Shell were 0.3% lower premarket.