Baker Hughes on Friday reported that the number of active U.S. rigs drilling for oil was up by two to 533 this week. That followed a climb of seven oil rigs the week before, Baker Hughes data show. The total active U.S. rig count, which includes those drilling for natural gas, climbed by three at 673, according to Baker Hughes. Oil prices continued to move lower in Friday dealings after the U.S. and other members of the International Energy Agency announced plans to release oil from emergency reserves. May West Texas Intermediate crude was down $1.29, or 1.3%, at $98.99 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
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