Baker Hughes data show active U.S. oil-drilling rig count down a 6th straight week

Baker Hughes
BKR,
+1.99%
on Friday reported that the number of active U.S. rigs drilling for oil fell by 7 to 530 this week. That followed five consecutive weeks of declines for U.S. oil rigs. The total active U.S. rig count, which includes those drilling for natural gas, fell 6 to stand at 669, according to Baker Hughes. Oil prices continued to trade higher in Friday dealings, with September West Texas Intermediate crude
CLU23,
+1.59%
up $1.25, or 1.7%, at $76.90 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.