Laura McArdle
OLDWICK, N.J., Nov 09, 2009 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) --

The AMBG closed Friday, Nov. 6 at 790.80 (+0.43%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, 10 rose and five declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Eastern Insurance Holdings (+12.29%) and Novae Group plc (+6.60%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Universal Insurance Holdings (-10.29%) and American International Group (-9.67%).

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

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) +1.92%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) +1.32%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +1.11%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +0.88%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) +0.88%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +0.66%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) +0.64%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +0.48%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +0.43%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +0.18%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) -0.04%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) -0.09%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) -0.28%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) -0.31%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) -1.24%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 728.67 (+0.66%). Leading the AMBUS were Eastern Insurance Holdings (+12.29%) and Protective Life Corp. (+4.30%). Trailing the AMBUS were Universal Insurance Holdings (-10.29%) and AIG (-9.67%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 862.69 (-0.28%). Leading the AMBEUR were Novae Group plc (+6.60%) and Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (+3.13%). Trailing the AMBEUR were ING Groep N.V. (-2.30%) and Old Mutual plc (-2.30%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1112.31 (+1.92%). Leading the AMBAP were QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (+4.28%) and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd. (+2.86%). Trailing the AMBAP were Sompo Japan Insurance (-1.98%) and Advance Create Co. (-1.22%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 954.32 (+0.18%). Leading the AMBGR were QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (+4.28%) and XL Capital (+3.80%). Trailing the AMBGR were Aspen Insurance Holdings (-2.30%) and ING Groep N.V. (-2.30%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 981.76 (-0.09%). Leading the AMBGB were AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (+1.26%) and Austbrokers Holdings (+0.62%). Trailing the AMBGB were National Financial Partners (-3.97%) and Life Quotes Inc. (-3.77%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 596.16 (-0.31%). Leading the AMBGML were Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (+3.13%) and Horace Mann Educators (+1.76%). Trailing the AMBGML were AIG (-9.67%) and Zurich Financial Services AG (-1.84%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1045.97 (+0.88%). Leading the AMBGNL were Eastern Insurance Holdings (+12.29%) and Novae Group plc (+6.60%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Universal Insurance Holdings (-10.29%) and Navigators Group (-7.22%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 738.15 (+0.48%). Leading the AMBGL were Protective Life Corp. (+4.30%) and United American Healthcare (+4.21%). Trailing the AMBGL were FBL Financial Group (-5.76%) and National Western Life Insurance (-5.23%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1061.75 (+0.64%). Leading the AMBUPC were Eastern Insurance Holdings (+12.29%) and XL Capital (+3.80%). Trailing the AMBUPC were Universal Insurance Holdings (-10.29%) and Navigators Group (-7.22%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 186.17 (-1.24%). Leading the AMBUML were Horace Mann Educators (+1.76%) and Unitrin (+1.40%). Trailing the AMBUML were AIG (-9.67%) and Atlantic American Corp. (-1.60%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 747.90 (+1.32%). Leading the AMBUL were Protective Life Corp. (+4.30%) and Lincoln National (+3.31%). Trailing the AMBUL were FBL Financial Group (-5.76%) and National Western Life Insurance (-5.23%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 793.37 (+1.11%). Leading the AMBULH were Protective Life Corp. (+4.30%) and United American Healthcare (+4.21%). Trailing the AMBULH were FBL Financial Group (-5.76%) and National Western Life Insurance (-5.23%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 841.03 (+0.88%). Leading the AMBUH were United American Healthcare (+4.21%) and Centene Corp. (+3.11%). Trailing the AMBUH were Aflac Inc. (-0.89%) and Molina Healthcare (-0.79%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 896.92 (-0.04%). Leading the AMBUB were AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (+1.26%) and Willis Group Holdings (+0.62%). Trailing the AMBUB were National Financial Partners (-3.97%) and Life Quotes Inc. (-3.77%).

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

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 203 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.