Baker Hughes data show active U.S. oil-drilling rig count down 5 weeks in a row

Baker Hughes
BKR,
-1.07%
on Friday reported that the number of active U.S. rigs drilling for oil fell by 3 to 537 this week. The total active U.S. rig count, which includes those drilling for natural gas, declined by 5 to stand at 675, according to Baker Hughes. Oil prices continued to trade lower in Friday dealings, with August West Texas Intermediate crude
CLQ23,
-1.77%
down $1.33, or 1.7%, at $75.56 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.