ENERGY
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Oil Rig Count Posts Gain: The number of working oil and gas rigs rose for the fifth straight week, climbing by 22 to total 689, Baker Hughes Inc. said. Despite the gains, the tally still trails the 828 reported at this time a year ago, although it is an improvement from the record low of 596 reached last month. The count is the widely watched index of domestic drilling activity. It represents the number of rigs actively exploring for--not producing--oil and natural gas.
