U.S. energy companies kept the oil rig count unchanged this week amid a steady decline in crude prices, which hit a near two-month low earlier this week. The rig count, an early indicator of future output, held at 869 in the week to Aug. 17, General Electric Co’s Baker Hughes energy services firm said in its closely followed report on Friday. U.S. crude futures were on track to fall for the seventh straight week as global trade disputes fueled concerns about slowing economic growth, which could hurt the demand for energy. The U.S. rig count, an early indicator of future output, is much higher than a year ago when 763 rigs were active as energy companies have been ramping up […]