US oil rig count up by 1 for week ending April 17

The oil rig count in the US increased by 1 this week, oilfield services company Baker Hughes data showed Thursday.

The number of oil rigs, an indicator of short-term production in the country, rose to 481 for the week ending April 17.

The number of US oil rigs dropped by 30 compared to one year ago.

Oil markets are closed Friday in observance of the Good Friday holiday, which precedes Easter Sunday.

The price of international benchmark Brent crude stood at $67.85 per barrel at Thursday’s trading close, while American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $64.68 a barrel.

• American Benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI)