Chaucer Holdings Leads Friday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Declines 1.14%

The AMBG closed Friday, Nov. 27, at 789.83 (-1.14%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, two rose and 13 declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Chaucer Holdings (+5.41%) and 21st Century Holding Co. (+5.21%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Dongbu Insurance Co. (-8.84%) and Korean Reinsurance Co. (-8.78%).

The European 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:

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) +1.00%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +0.29%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) -1.00%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) -1.14%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) -1.49%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) -1.63%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) -1.67%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) -1.73%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) -2.10%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -2.20%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) -2.21%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) -2.28%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) -2.53%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) -3.36%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) -3.54%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 725.10 (-2.21%). Leading the AMBUS were 21st Century Holding Co. (+5.21%) and Eastern Insurance Holdings (+0.92%). Trailing the AMBUS were NYMagic (-8.21%) and Atlantic American Corp. (-7.97%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 866.65 (+1.00%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were Chaucer Holdings (+5.41%) and Aegon N.V. (+3.92%). Trailing the AMBEUR were ING Groep N.V. (-4.33%) and Hansard Global (-3.36%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1114.19 (-2.20%). Leading the AMBAP were Austbrokers Holdings (+1.76%) and Aioi Insurance Co. Ltd. (+1.75%). Trailing the AMBAP were Dongbu Insurance Co. (-8.84%) and Korean Reinsurance Co. (-8.78%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 936.96 (-1.00%). Leading the AMBGR were Chaucer Holdings (+5.41%) and Aegon N.V. (+3.92%). Trailing the AMBGR were Korean Reinsurance Co. (-8.78%) and China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co. Ltd. (-7.13%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 949.01 (-2.10%). Leading the AMBGB were Austbrokers Holdings (+1.76%) and InsWeb (0.00%). Trailing the AMBGB were National Financial Partners (-3.67%) and Hansard Global (-3.36%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 599.47 (+0.29%). Leading the AMBGML were Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (+1.40%) and Axa S.A. (+1.38%). Trailing the AMBGML were Atlantic American Corp. (-7.97%) and Hartford Financial Services Group (-5.50%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1036.74 (-1.49%). Leading the AMBGNL were Chaucer Holdings (+5.41%) and 21st Century Holding Co. (+5.21%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Dongbu Insurance Co. (-8.84%) and Korean Reinsurance Co. (-8.78%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 742.34 (-1.63%). Leading the AMBGL were Aegon N.V. (+3.92%) and Legal & General Group (+3.12%). Trailing the AMBGL were China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co. Ltd. (-7.13%) and Conseco (-6.34%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1049.21 (-1.73%). Leading the AMBUPC were 21st Century Holding Co. (+5.21%) and Eastern Insurance Holdings (+0.92%). Trailing the AMBUPC were NYMagic (-8.21%) and American Safety Insurance Holdings (-6.29%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 183.07 (-3.54%). Leading the AMBUML were HCC Insurance Holdings (-2.17%) and American National Insurance (-2.31%). Trailing the AMBUML were Atlantic American Corp. (-7.97%) and Hartford Financial Services Group (-5.50%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 735.20 (-3.36%). Leading the AMBUL were Investors Heritage Capital Co. (0.00%) and Kansas City Life Insurance (-0.22%). Trailing the AMBUL were Conseco (-6.34%) and Phoenix Cos. (-6.05%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 800.36 (-2.53%). Leading the AMBULH were United American Healthcare (+0.53%) and Centene Corp. (+0.32%). Trailing the AMBULH were Conseco (-6.34%) and Phoenix Cos. (-6.05%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 871.38 (-1.67%). Leading the AMBUH were United American Healthcare (+0.53%) and Centene Corp. (+0.32%). Trailing the AMBUH were HealthSpring (-5.13%) and Universal American (-4.32%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 866.08 (-2.28%). Leading the AMBUB were InsWeb (0.00%) and Kingstone Cos. Inc. (0.00%). Trailing the AMBUB were National Financial Partners (-3.67%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (-2.45%).

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