Investors scrambled to get in on the Butterfield Bank rights issue offer with 5,892,578 shares changing hands on the last day of trading on the Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX) yesterday as its price rose 42.85 percent (three cents) to 10 cents.

The bank also traded 35,420 commons shares, which climbed eight percent (10 cents) to $1.35, and four preference shares, whose price remained unchanged at $200.

Other traders included the Ascendant Group Ltd., which transacted 15,200 shares, BF&M Ltd. (4,000) and KeyTech Ltd. (3,500). All of their share values held firm.

The Index, as a whole, was up 31.94 points (2.57 percent) at 1,273.45, with 5,750,698 shares worth BD$839,843.52 and four shares worth US$4,889.78 traded.

The BSX Insurance Index, however, was down five points (0.5 percent) at 980.