National Security Group Leads Wednesday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Rises 0.90%

The AMBG closed Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 789.53 (+0.90%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, 14 rose and one declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were National Security Group (+11.40%) and Genworth Financial (+9.65%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were National Financial Partners (-6.98%) and eHealth Inc. (-5.71%).

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

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +1.82%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +1.67%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) +1.61%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) +1.58%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +0.98%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +0.91%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +0.90%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +0.87%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +0.85%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +0.79%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +0.69%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) +0.58%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) +0.38%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) +0.00%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -0.46%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 726.12 (+0.79%). Leading the AMBUS were National Security Group (+11.40%) and Genworth Financial (+9.65%). Trailing the AMBUS were National Financial Partners (-6.98%) and Gainsco (-4.74%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 856.75 (+1.58%). Leading the AMBEUR were Hansard Global (+6.50%) and Euler Hermes (+3.82%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Paris Re Holdings (-3.26%) and Amlin plc (-2.08%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1149.95 (-0.46%). Leading the AMBAP were Nipponkoa Insurance (+1.63%) and Sompo Japan Insurance (+1.31%). Trailing the AMBAP were Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co. Ltd. (-4.15%) and Dongbu Insurance Co. (-3.95%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 944.93 (+0.69%). Leading the AMBGR were Euler Hermes (+3.82%) and RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (+3.02%). Trailing the AMBGR were Paris Re Holdings (-3.26%) and Validus Holdings (-2.85%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 989.60 (+0.85%). Leading the AMBGB were Hansard Global (+6.50%) and Aon (+2.17%). Trailing the AMBGB were National Financial Partners (-6.98%) and eHealth Inc. (-5.71%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 583.30 (+1.67%). Leading the AMBGML were American International Group Inc. (+8.48%) and Horace Mann Educators (+6.19%). Trailing the AMBGML were Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (-0.33%) and American National Insurance (-0.30%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1037.71 (+0.38%). Leading the AMBGNL were National Security Group (+11.40%) and Unico American Corp. (+7.69%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Gainsco (-4.74%) and Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co. Ltd. (-4.15%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 751.02 (+0.98%). Leading the AMBGL were Genworth Financial (+9.65%) and HealthSpring (+4.23%). Trailing the AMBGL were Great-West Lifeco (-3.62%) and United American Healthcare (-3.08%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1036.77 (+0.58%). Leading the AMBUPC were National Security Group (+11.40%) and Unico American Corp. (+7.69%). Trailing the AMBUPC were Gainsco (-4.74%) and Validus Holdings (-2.85%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 184.38 (+1.61%). Leading the AMBUML were AIG (+8.48%) and Horace Mann Educators (+6.19%). Trailing the AMBUML were American National Insurance (-0.30%) and Allstate (-0.17%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 774.33 (+0.00%). Leading the AMBUL were Genworth Financial (+9.65%) and Torchmark (+3.62%). Trailing the AMBUL were Sun Life Financial (-2.54%) and Manulife Financial (-2.06%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 806.76 (+0.87%). Leading the AMBULH were Genworth Financial (+9.65%) and HealthSpring (+4.23%). Trailing the AMBULH were United American Healthcare (-3.08%) and Sun Life Financial (-2.54%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 838.24 (+1.82%). Leading the AMBUH were HealthSpring (+4.23%) and Humana (+3.82%). Trailing the AMBUH were United American Healthcare (-3.08%) and Triple-S Management Corp. (-0.51%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 920.76 (+0.91%). Leading the AMBUB were Aon (+2.17%) and Life Partners (+1.45%). Trailing the AMBUB were National Financial Partners (-6.98%) and eHealth Inc. (-5.71%).

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

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 204 publicly traded insurance companies and brokers. Index values are calculated by Dow Jones Indexes in U.S. dollars. Companies in the A.M. Best stock indexes include insurers and insurance-related organizations with credit ratings from A.M. Best, along with brokers. A.M. Best does not provide investment recommendations. A listing of companies in each A.M. Best Index is available at http://www.ambest.com/stocks.