Energy

Lower Rig Counts Still Stabilizing (BHI, USO)

oil-well-image2Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI) has released the weekly rig counts.  The bad news is that these rig counts are still declining.  The good news is that this really appears to be stabilizing at least some on the rate of change.  Here is this week’s count:

U.S. Rig Count is down 10 from last week at 945; down 894 year over year.

Canadian Rig Count up 2 from last week at 67; down 28 year over year.

The U.S. Offshore rig count is 51, unchanged from last week; down 18 year over year.

We have noticed how oil inventories keep rising and rising.  That is obvious demand destruction taking effect, and the unemployment rate heading closer and closer to double-digits may keep that demand subdued for longer than normal.

We can’t pull out any stops here and call an absolute drop in rig counts.  But again, the rate of change is much lower and even if there is a further drop through time we would guess that this will come at a much slower rate than what we saw in the first months of 2009 and late in 2008.

So far we have not seen any sharp reactions in oil.  The United States Oil ETF (NYSE: USO) is still up 4% at $29.82.

JON C. OGG

Essential Tips for Investing (Sponsored)

A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.