Platinum breaches $2,000 level as Oil prices push through the $95 a barrel

UBS said platinum exchange traded funds were indirectly tying up a substantial amount of physical platinum - about 311,000 ounces - a large proportion of the 1m to 2m ounces of globally available platinum stocks. Oil prices pushed through the $95 a barrel level, supported by colder weather in the US and the simmering legal dispute between Venezuela and ExxonMobil. Nymex March West Texas Intermediate hit $95.44 a barrel before easing back to trade $1.53 higher at $94.80 a barrel while ICE March Brent gained $1.56 at $94.88 a barrel.