Two domestic companies —Belco Holdings Ltd. and Bermuda Press (Holdings) Ltd. — ended 2008 with a bang.

In a week which straddled the old year and 2009, both companies saw their share prices jump by around one fifth, to give The Royal Gazette / Bermuda Stock Exchange Index a timely boost.

Belco gained $3 through the week, which was shortened for the New Year's Day holiday, to close on $18, as 2,100 shares traded.

Bermuda Press, owner of The Royal Gazette, climbed $2 (18.2 percent) to close the week on $13, on the trading of 2,800 shares.

Butterfield Bank was the only share to decline during the week, falling 20 cents (1.9 percent) to $10.45, as 19,630 shares changed hands. Two other domestic companies traded, Stevedoring Services Ltd. (500 shares) and Argus Group Holdings Ltd. (300 shares), but both remained unchanged for the week.

The BSX Index gained 24.79 points (0.7 percent) to close the four days of trading at 3,417.

Volume was 25,330 shares and turnover was $285,721.50.