- U.S. oil drillers idled the most rigs in almost two years last week, dropping by 29 to 1,546 for the lowest level since June and the biggest decline since December 2012, according to Baker Hughes' (BHI) latest survey.
- This week’s slowdown is one of the first significant drops seen in the rig count since oil began to fall from highs of more than $100/bbl this summer; nearly all of the idled oil rigs were in Texas.
- Rig counts remain higher across the board in 2014 than a year ago, but "the bulk of the cuts are yet to come,” says a Wood Mackenzie analyst. “The trend is pointing down and we’re entering into a period of new budgets. January and February are the months to watch.”
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