Gains in the share prices of Butterfield Bank and Ascendant Group helped The Royal Gazette / Bermuda Stock Exchange Index rise 2.3 percent last week.

The biggest riser was Butterfield which advanced five cents, or 3.6 percent over the five days of trading to close the week on $1.45. A total of 163,305 of the bank’s shares changed hands.

Ascendant, owner of electricity provider Belco, recorded a 3.4 percent gain, as its share price rose 35 cents to $10.50 on the trading of 8,000 shares.

The Index rose 26.64 points to 1,169.81. Volume topped 171,000 shares and turnover was $316,582.25.