ENERGY

Rig Count Increases by 38: Led by an increase in Oklahoma because of improved weather, the number of working oil and gas rigs in the United States jumped to 706 this week, Baker Hughes Inc. said. The count, which dropped by 21 last week in part because Hurricane Andrew halted most activity in the Gulf of Mexico, still lagged behind last year’s total of 798, the Houston tool maker said. Earlier this summer, the rig count dropped to a record low of 596. The count is the widely watched index of domestic drilling activity.