Baker Hughes data show a decline in active U.S. oil-drilling rigs

Baker Hughes
BKR,
+1.77%
on Friday reported that the number of active U.S. rigs drilling for oil fell by 10 to 613 this week. That followed an increase of five oil rigs in the previous week. The total active U.S. rig count, which includes those drilling for natural gas, declined by four to 771, according to Baker Hughes. Oil prices continued to trade higher, with the most active March West Texas Intermediate crude contract
CLH23,
+1.41%
up 96 cents, or 1.2%, at $81.57 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.