News roundup: La. gains two rigs on the week … Oil price declines have small-cap shale investors scrambling … Halloween spending to average $74.72 per person for costumes, decorations and candy

Doing the two step: Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. rose by two this week to 1,929. The firm’s weekly …