Idle oil equipment is seen in a Baker Hughes yard in Williston, North Dakota. The number of rigs drilling for oil in the U.S. rose by two in the past week to 452, according to oil-field services company Baker Hughes Inc. The U.S. oil-rig count is typically viewed as a proxy for activity in the sector. After peaking at 1,609 in October 2014, low oil prices put downward pressure on production and the rig count fell sharply. The oil-rig count has generally been rising since the beginning of summer. The nation’s gas-rig count fell by two to 115 in the past week, according to Baker Hughes. The U.S. offshore-rig count is unchanged from last week at 21, which is 12 fewer than a year ago. Oil prices were 2.5% lower at $43.55 a barrel in afternoon trading Friday. General Electric Co. reached a deal last month to combine its […]