Sharp rise in the share prices of Argus Group Holdings Ltd and Somers Ltd helped to boost The Royal Gazette/Bermuda Stock Exchange Index last week.

During the four-day trading week, shortened by last Monday’s Bermuda Day holiday, Argus surged 18.8 percent, with its share price gaining 75 cents to $4.75 on the trading of 1,200 shares.

Somers, a financial services holding company and the parent of Bermuda Commercial Bank, gained a dollar during the week, representing a 7.5 percent rise, to close on $14.25, as 11,400 of its shares changed hands.

It was not a good week for utilities, as both Ascendant Group Ltd and KeyTech Ltd saw their share prices fall more than five percent.

Ascendant, owner of electricity company Belco, dipped 42 cents, or 5.7 percent, to close the week on $7.01, as 6,300 of its shares traded.

KeyTech, which owns the Bermuda Telephone Company and Logic Communications, tumbled 25 cents, or 5.3 percent, to end Friday at $4.50, as 135,000 of its shares changed hands.

Butterfield Bank was the only other mover, shedding a cent, or 0.5 percent, to close on $1.99.

The Index gained eight points, or 0.56 percent during the week to close on 1,414.3. Volume totalled 202,864 shares and turnover was more than $913,000.