Three stocks gained in Bermuda Stock Exchange trading to drive The Royal Gazette/BSX Index 0.74 per cent higher.

Ascendant Group Ltd, parent of power utility Belco, gained the most ground, climbing 25 cents, or 2.7 per cent, to close on a 52-week high of $9.50 on the trading of 700 shares.

Insurer BF&M Ltd also had a good day, climbing 25 cents, or 1.4 per cent, to $18.50, as 1,500 shares changed hands.

Butterfield Bank gained 25 cents, or 0.7 per cent, to close on $35.25 on the trading of 200 shares. The bank’s New York Stock Exchange-listed shares gained 29 cents, or 0.8 per cent, to close on $36.20.

One Communications Ltd’s stock was the most actively traded, but it remained on $2.99 as 17,459 shares changed hands.

Trading volume totalled 19,859 shares, while turnover amounted to $93,652.41.

The BSX Insurance Index closed down 4.93 points at 1,898.67.