LONDON, Jan 2: Oil prices turned higher on Wednesday, albeit in thin trading, as a cold snap in Europe and the US boosted demand for heating oil.

The price of a barrel of Brent North Sea crude for February was up 62 cents to $20.52 in late trading on the first day of market operations in the new year.

In New York, the light sweet crude February contract added 85 cents to reach $20.66 a barrel.—AFP