The AMBG closed Thursday, Oct. 8, at 829.35 (+0.70%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, 11 rose and four declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Phoenix Cos. (+8.97%) and China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co. Ltd. (+6.83%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Affirmative Insurance Holdings Inc. (-8.20%) and WellPoint (-6.17%).

The European Insurance Index led the sector indexes, with the U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index trailing the list. In descending order, the A.M. Best Insurance Stock Indexes closed at:

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) +2.38%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +1.42%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +1.42%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) +1.39%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +1.19%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +1.14%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +0.85%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +0.70%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) +0.25%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) +0.16%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) +0.06%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) -0.13%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) -0.23%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) -0.62%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) -3.10%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 742.03 (-0.23%). Leading the AMBUS were Phoenix Cos. (+8.97%) and National Financial Partners (+3.34%). Trailing the AMBUS were Affirmative Insurance Holdings Inc. (-8.20%) and WellPoint (-6.17%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 946.00 (+2.38%). Leading the AMBEUR were ING Groep N.V. (+6.20%) and Omega Insurance Holdings (+5.02%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Novae Group plc (-0.75%) and Aviva (-0.30%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1185.00 (+0.16%). Leading the AMBAP were China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co. Ltd. (+6.83%) and Dongbu Insurance Co. (+4.82%). Trailing the AMBAP were Singapore Reinsurance Corp. (-3.33%) and Fuji Fire & Marine Insurance (-2.75%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1002.26 (+1.42%). Leading the AMBGR were China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co. Ltd. (+6.83%) and ING Groep N.V. (+6.20%). Trailing the AMBGR were Singapore Reinsurance Corp. (-3.33%) and Korean Reinsurance Co. (-2.16%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1032.09 (+1.19%). Leading the AMBGB were National Financial Partners (+3.34%) and Advance Create Co. (+2.72%). Trailing the AMBGB were AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (-1.36%) and CNinsure Inc. (-0.39%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 649.88 (+1.42%). Leading the AMBGML were American Financial Group (+2.52%) and Delphi Financial Group (+2.42%). Trailing the AMBGML were American International Group Inc. (-4.68%) and Atlantic American Corp. (-2.16%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1064.63 (+0.06%). Leading the AMBGNL were Omega Insurance Holdings (+5.02%) and Dongbu Insurance Co. (+4.82%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Affirmative Insurance Holdings Inc. (-8.20%) and American Safety Insurance Holdings (-4.28%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 778.64 (+0.85%). Leading the AMBGL were Phoenix Cos. (+8.97%) and China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co. Ltd. (+6.83%). Trailing the AMBGL were WellPoint (-6.17%) and Humana (-5.25%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1064.93 (-0.13%). Leading the AMBUPC were White Mountains Insurance Group (+2.54%) and Fairfax Financial Holdings (+2.31%). Trailing the AMBUPC were Affirmative Insurance Holdings Inc. (-8.20%) and American Safety Insurance Holdings (-4.28%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 208.33 (+0.25%). Leading the AMBUML were American Financial Group (+2.52%) and Delphi Financial Group (+2.42%). Trailing the AMBUML were AIG (-4.68%) and Atlantic American Corp. (-2.16%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 833.11 (+1.39%). Leading the AMBUL were Phoenix Cos. (+8.97%) and Principal Financial Group (+2.59%). Trailing the AMBUL were FBL Financial Group (-3.22%) and American Equity Inv. Life (-1.03%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 805.64 (-0.62%). Leading the AMBULH were Phoenix Cos. (+8.97%) and Principal Financial Group (+2.59%). Trailing the AMBULH were WellPoint (-6.17%) and Humana (-5.25%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 766.55 (-3.10%). Leading the AMBUH were Universal American (+1.82%) and HealthSpring (+1.31%). Trailing the AMBUH were WellPoint (-6.17%) and Humana (-5.25%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 940.55 (+1.14%). Leading the AMBUB were National Financial Partners (+3.34%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+2.10%). Trailing the AMBUB were AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (-1.36%) and Life Partners (-0.22%).

Performance rankings of companies in each A.M. Best insurance sector index are published weekly in BestWeek.