Crude oil futures ended higher on Friday. Trading during the day remained choppy but dying hour buying due to short covering ahead of the weekend, supported the oil prices. According to a report released by Baker Hughes, the number of oil rigs in the United States went up by thirteen to 546 in the week ending April 8 compared to the previous week. The number of US gas rigs rose by three to 141 in the week, while the total number of rigs in the country reached 689 after a rise of sixteen rigs. The number of oil rigs has gone up by 209 compared to the same period a year earlier.
Benchmark crude oil futures for May delivery rose $2.2 or 2.3 percent to settle at $98.26 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for June delivery surged $2.06 or 2.05 percent to settle at $102.64 a barrel on London's Intercontinental Exchange.