UPDATE 1-U.S. oil rig count steady for first this time this year -Baker Hughes

(Recasts, adds quote)

By Scott DiSavino

May 20 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week kept the

number of rigs drilling for oil unchanged for the first time

this year as crude futures trade near a seven-month high,

indicating that a near two-year slump in the rig count could be

ending as forecast by several analysts.

Drillers kept the number of rigs at 318 in

the week to May 20, holding at the lowest level since October

2009, energy services company Baker Hu

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