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

Baker Hughes
BKR,
+1.79%
on Friday reported that the number of active U.S. rigs drilling for oil fell by 1 to 545 this week. The total active U.S. rig count, which includes those drilling for natural gas, declined by 8 to stand at 674, according to Baker Hughes. The number of active natural-gas drilling rigs stood at 124, down 6 for the week. Oil prices continued to trade higher in Friday dealings, with August West Texas Intermediate crude
CLQ23,
+0.89%
up 67 cents, or 1%, at $70.53 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.