InsWeb Leads Monday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Rises 2.86%

Laura McArdle
OLDWICK, N.J., Nov 10, 2009 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) --

The AMBG closed Monday, Nov. 9, at 813.45 (+2.86%). All 15 A.M. Best stock indexes rose. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were InsWeb (+8.70%) and Aioi Insurance Co. Ltd. (+8.65%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were CRM Holdings (-12.05%) and Kingsway Financial Services (-10.02%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index led the sector indexes, with the U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index trailing the list. In descending order, the A.M. Best Insurance Stock Indexes closed at:

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) +4.22%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +3.91%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) +3.74%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) +3.44%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +3.34%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +3.11%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +2.86%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) +2.74%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +2.42%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +2.31%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +2.05%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +2.01%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +2.00%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) +1.85%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) +1.37%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 745.47 (+2.31%). Leading the AMBUS were InsWeb (+8.70%) and Universal Insurance Holdings (+8.20%). Trailing the AMBUS were CRM Holdings (-12.05%) and Amerisafe (-3.26%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 894.92 (+3.74%). Leading the AMBEUR were Aegon N.V. (+5.96%) and Prudential plc (+5.19%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Lancashire (-0.58%) and Chaucer Holdings (-0.33%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1150.56 (+3.44%). Leading the AMBAP were Aioi Insurance Co. Ltd. (+8.65%) and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Holdings (+8.59%). Trailing the AMBAP were CNinsure Inc. (-2.96%) and LIG Insurance Co. (-1.93%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 973.49 (+2.01%). Leading the AMBGR were Aegon N.V. (+5.96%) and ING Groep N.V. (+5.11%). Trailing the AMBGR were Korean Reinsurance Co. (-0.94%) and China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co. Ltd. (-0.36%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1001.37 (+2.00%). Leading the AMBGB were InsWeb (+8.70%) and Life Quotes Inc. (+4.71%). Trailing the AMBGB were CNinsure Inc. (-2.96%) and Life Partners (-0.92%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 614.73 (+3.11%). Leading the AMBGML were Hartford Financial Services Group (+5.19%) and Allianz (+4.27%). Trailing the AMBGML were Arab Orient Insurance Co. (0.00%) and Sagicor Financial Co. (0.00%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1065.27 (+1.85%). Leading the AMBGNL were Aioi Insurance Co. Ltd. (+8.65%) and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Holdings (+8.59%). Trailing the AMBGNL were CRM Holdings (-12.05%) and Kingsway Financial Services (-10.02%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 767.05 (+3.91%). Leading the AMBGL were Aegon N.V. (+5.96%) and Prudential Financial Inc. (+5.77%). Trailing the AMBGL were Phoenix Cos. (-2.45%) and United American Healthcare (-1.01%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1076.34 (+1.37%). Leading the AMBUPC were Universal Insurance Holdings (+8.20%) and XL Capital (+4.18%). Trailing the AMBUPC were CRM Holdings (-12.05%) and Amerisafe (-3.26%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 191.27 (+2.74%). Leading the AMBUML were Hartford Financial Services Group (+5.19%) and Delphi Financial Group (+3.88%). Trailing the AMBUML were HCC Insurance Holdings (+0.22%) and American Financial Group (+1.29%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 779.45 (+4.22%). Leading the AMBUL were Prudential Financial Inc. (+5.77%) and Protective Life Corp. (+5.40%). Trailing the AMBUL were Phoenix Cos. (-2.45%) and American Equity Inv. Life (-0.75%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 819.89 (+3.34%). Leading the AMBULH were Prudential Financial Inc. (+5.77%) and Protective Life Corp. (+5.40%). Trailing the AMBULH were Phoenix Cos. (-2.45%) and United American Healthcare (-1.01%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 861.39 (+2.42%). Leading the AMBUH were Unum Group (+4.25%) and Aflac Inc. (+4.12%). Trailing the AMBUH were United American Healthcare (-1.01%) and Centene Corp. (-0.83%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 915.34 (+2.05%). Leading the AMBUB were InsWeb (+8.70%) and Life Quotes Inc. (+4.71%). Trailing the AMBUB were Life Partners (-0.92%) and Kingstone Cos. Inc. (0.00%).

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