BAKER HUGHES A GE - The worldwide rig count for August 2018 was 2,278, up 27 from the 2,251 counted in July 2018, and up 162 from the 2,116 counted in August 2017.

BAKER HUGHES A GE - The worldwide rig count for July 2018 was 2,251, up 99 from the 2,152 counted in June 2018, and up 141 from the 2,110 counted in July 2017.

BAKER HUGHES A GE - The worldwide rig count for June 2018 was 2,152, up 56 from the 2,096 counted in May 2018, and up 111 from the 2,041 counted in June 2017.

BAKER HUGHES A GE - The worldwide rig count for May 2018 was 2,096, up 9 from the 2,087 counted in April 2018, and up 161 from the 1,935 counted in May 2017.

The worldwide rig count for October 2017 was 2,077, down 4 from the 2,081 counted in September 2017, and up 457 from the 1,620 counted in October 2016.

Baker Hughes, a GE company (NYSE:BHGE) announced today that the Baker Hughes international rig count for September 2017 was 931, down 21 from the 952 counted in August 2017, and down 3 from the 934 counted in September 2016. The international offshore rig count for September 2017 was 190, down 11 from the 201 counted in August 2017, and down 31 from the 221 counted in September 2016.

World Bank - Improved global growth prospects and continued strong domestic demand underpin a positive outlook for the developing economies of East Asia and the Pacific. Stronger growth in advanced economies, a moderate recovery in commodity prices, and a recovery in global trade growth, are the favorable external factors that will support the economies of developing East Asia and Pacific to expand by 6.4 percent for 2017.

According to the World Bank’s Special Focus Note on reforming land markets, the moratorium on agricultural land sales, along with weaknesses in the transparency of land rights and transactions, are major impediments to attracting investment and unlocking productivity in Ukraine’s agriculture sector.

World Bank Group commitments to help developing countries take on poverty and boost opportunity reached nearly $59 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees in fiscal year 2017.

The World Bank is holding steady its crude oil price forecast for the year at $55 per barrel, a 29 percent jump from 2016. The energy price forecast assumes members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other oil producers will partially comply with an agreement to limit production after a long period of unrestrained output.