Baker Hughes on Friday reported that the number of active U.S. rigs drilling for oil was unchanged at 738 this week. The figure had climbed by 9 rigs last week. The total active U.S. rig count, which includes oil and natural-gas rigs, climbed by 8 to 915, according to Baker Hughes. December West Texas Intermediate crude was up $1.24, or 2.3%, from Thursday, to $56.38 a barrel, continuing to find support from expectations that OPEC will agree to extend its production-cut pact when it meets later this month. Prices traded at $56.42 shortly before the rig data.
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