Shares of Butterfield Bank and Ascendant Group Ltd rose in Bermuda Stock Exchange trading last week to drive the local market higher.

Butterfield gained 1 cent, or 0.6 per cent, to close at $1.64, on the trading of 115,418 shares.

Ascendant, owner of Belco, gained 10 cents, or 2.3 per cent, to close the week on $4.50, as 25,300 shares changed hands.

The Royal Gazette/BSX Index climbed 15.99 points, or 1.35 per cent, to close the week on 1,181.7.

Volume topped 203,600 shares, while turnover totalled $894,000.

Insurer Argus Group Holdings Ltd plunged 49 cents, or 12.3 per cent, to close on a 52-week low of $3.50, as 7,800 shares traded.

KeyTech Ltd also had a bad week, with shares dipping 25 cents, or 7.1 per cent, to $3.25 as 3,000 shares traded.

Property developer West Hamilton Holdings Ltd gained 10 cents, or 1.4 per cent, to close on $7 on unusually heavy volume of 44,430.

Butterfield Bank’s 8 per cent preference shares also rose $48.50, or 4.8 per cent, to $1,050, as 108 changed hands.