Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI), Transocean Inc. (NYSE: RIG), Encana Corp. (NYSE: ECA), Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP).

Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:

Nat Gas Rig Count at 10-Year Low

In its weekly release, Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI) reported a rise in the U.S. rig count (number of rigs searching for oil and gas in the country). This can be attributed to an increase in the tally of oil-directed rigs, partially offset by cutbacks in natural gas and miscellaneous rig counts.

The Baker Hughes rig count, issued since 1944, acts as an important yardstick for drilling contractors such as Transocean Inc. (NYSE: RIG) in gauging the overall business environment of the oil and gas industry. [...]