U.S. energy firms this week added oil and natural gas rigs for a second week in a row as demand for energy keeps growing after last year’s coronavirus demand destruction. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose three to 579 in the week to Dec. 17, its highest since April 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said in its closely followed report on Friday. , , Even though the rig count has been rising for a record 16 months in a row, analysts noted that oil production was still expected to ease in 2021 as energy firms continue to focus more on returning money to investors rather than boosting output. […]