Oil prices up in Asian trade today. With a lingering cold snap in Europe spurring Brent prices while bargain hunters snapped up cheaper US crude. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude for delivery in March, gained 35 cents to 97.26 dollars a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for March delivery advanced 47 cents to 116.40 dollars. Fatalities from wintry weather sweeping across Europe topped 360 yesterday after snow and rain-swollen rivers burst a Bulgarian dam and killed at least eight people while more homeless perished on frigid city streets. Switzerland reported temperatures plummeting to minus 35.1 Celsius in the eastern Graubuenden canton.