Shares to the value of half-a-million dollars were traded on the Royal Gazette / Bermuda Stock Exchange yesterday, moving the Index 9.19 points (0.19 percent) higher to close at 4,975.51.

Belco was the most active stock with 22,900 shares changing hands to move the price up 50 cents (2.3 percent) to a new close at $22.

Also traded during the day were 2,107 shares in Butterfield Bank, but without affecting the closing price of $18.30.