Rising bank shares helped to push up The Royal Gazette / Bermuda Stock Exchange Index by 20 points yesterday.

The Bermuda Commercial Bank was the biggest climber, gaining 90 cents (10.2 percent) to close on $9.75, as 2,000 of its shares traded.

Butterfield Bank also advanced, as the 1,000 shares sold saw its price climb 25 cents (0.4 percent) to hit a 52-week high of $60.25.

The only other issue to trade was Devonshire Industries Ltd. One hundred shares changed hands as the price closed unchanged on $14.

The Index rose 20.24 points (0.39 percent) to finish the day on 5,151.74. Volume was 3,100 shares and turnover was $81,150.

The BSX Insurance Index was virtually unchanged as it closed up by a third of a point (0.02 percent) to reach 1,294.73.