US oil rig count rises for 8th straight week, Baker Hughes says

The US oil rig count rose for an eighth straight period this week, according to Baker Hughes. 
Eight oil rigs were activated, taking the total to 617 and to the highest level since September 25, 2015. The gas rig count increased by five to 151. One miscellaneous rig was taken offline, and so the combined count increased by 12 to 768.
US drilling activity became the focus of markets again this week as oil prices plunged after data showed that inventory levels continued to rise. The Depa