Nearly $2.9 million worth of shares were traded on the Bermuda Stock Exchange on a day when Ascendant Group advanced and Butterfield Bank fell.

Ascendant, the parent company of power utility Belco, climbed 15 cents, or 0.9 per cent to close on $16.45. Volume was unusually high, as 145,464 shares changed hands.

Butterfield dipped $1.50, or 2.9 per cent, to close on $49.50 as 10,157 shares traded. In New York, Butterfield’s US-listed shares gained 38 cents, or 0.8 per cent, to close on $49.89.

The BSX Insurance Index climbed 8.27 points, or 0.5 per cent, to close on 1,717.83.