Platinum prices rose Wednesday as a South African mine strike raised the prospect of smaller global supplies.

Platinum for April delivery rose $35.90 to finish at $1,720.80 an ounce, which was the highest level since September. The metal is used in a variety of products, from automobile catalytic converters to electronics.

The strike has triggered violent protests at Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd.'s mine near Rustenburg, which is about 60 miles northwest of Johannesburg.

The company says it has lost 80,000 ounces of platinum production since the strike began and will lose an additional 20,000 every week it remains unsettled.

The operation accounts for about

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Washington state may not force pharmacies to sell Plan B or other emergency contraceptives, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, saying the state's true goal is to suppress religious objections by druggists — not to promote timely access to the medicines for people who need them.

U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton heard closing arguments earlier this month in a lawsuit that claimed state rules violate the constitutional rights of pharmacists by requiring them to dispense such medicine. The state requires pharmacies to dispense any medication for which there is a community need and to stock a representative assortment

PLATINUM PROSPECTS: Platinum prices hit their highest level since September as a South African mine strike raised the prospect of smaller global supplies. The mining company has lost 80,000 ounces of platinum production to date.

GLOBAL FOCUS: Investors questioned whether a multi-billion dollar bailout package would be enough to keep Greece from defaulting on its debt. In China, an index showed that the manufacturing sector is improving but remains below expansion levels.

TRENDING HIGHER: Prices are higher for gold, oil, gasoline, wheat, corn and soybeans. Silver and copper fell.

CHICAGO (AP) — Grains futures mostly rose Wednesday on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Wheat for March delivery rose 11.50 cents to $6.4450 a bushel; March corn rose 8.75 cents to $6.3825 a bushel; March oats fell 1.25 cent to $3.1925 a bushel; while March soybeans rose 1.25 cent to $12.7225 a bushel.

Beef and pork futures traded mixed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

April live cattle rose 0.03 cent to $1.3115 a pound; March feeder cattle fell 0.18 cent to $1.5842 a pound; while April lean hogs rose 0.55 cent to 90.32 cents a pound.