American Physicians Leads Wednesday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Rises 3.39%

The AMBG closed Wednesday, Sept. 1, at 784.90 (+3.39%). All 15 A.M. Best stock indexes rose. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were American Physicians (+23.42%) and InsWeb (+8.16%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Gainsco (-5.44%) and EGI Financial Holdings (-4.25%).

The U.S. Life 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. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) +5.23%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +4.40%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +4.39%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) +4.29%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +4.01%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) +3.91%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +3.57%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +3.39%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +3.37%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +3.12%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +2.60%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) +2.51%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +2.46%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) +2.31%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) +1.69%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 778.57 (+3.37%). Leading the AMBUS were American Physicians (+23.42%) and InsWeb (+8.16%). Trailing the AMBUS were Gainsco (-5.44%) and 21st Century Holding Co. (-3.05%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 757.56 (+3.91%). Leading the AMBEUR were AXA S.A. (+5.71%) and Aegon N.V. (+5.40%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Hardy Underwriting (-4.13%) and Novae Group PLC (-2.43%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1011.58 (+1.69%). Leading the AMBAP were China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co. Ltd. (+5.18%) and Korean Reinsurance Co. (+4.65%). Trailing the AMBAP were Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co. Ltd. (-0.95%) and Fuji Fire & Marine Insurance (-0.94%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 966.75 (+3.12%). Leading the AMBGR were AXA S.A. (+5.71%) and Aegon N.V. (+5.40%). Trailing the AMBGR were Chaucer Holdings (-1.11%) and Continental Reinsurance (0.00%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1004.90 (+2.46%). Leading the AMBGB were InsWeb (+8.16%) and eHealth Inc. (+7.31%). Trailing the AMBGB were Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group PLC (-1.30%) and CNinsure Inc. (-0.05%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 517.41 (+4.01%). Leading the AMBGML were Hartford Financial Services Group (+6.35%) and AXA S.A. (+5.71%). Trailing the AMBGML were Generali Deutschland Holding (-0.25%) and Arab Orient Insurance Co. (0.00%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1104.13 (+2.31%). Leading the AMBGNL were American Physicians (+23.42%) and OneBeacon Insurance Group Ltd. (+7.59%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Gainsco (-5.44%) and EGI Financial Holdings (-4.25%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 740.86 (+4.40%). Leading the AMBGL were CNO Financial Group Inc. (+7.61%) and Protective Life Corp. (+7.01%). Trailing the AMBGL were Symetra Life Insurance (-0.47%) and Investors Heritage Capital Co. (0.00%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1180.67 (+2.51%). Leading the AMBUPC were American Physicians (+23.42%) and OneBeacon Insurance Group Ltd. (+7.59%). Trailing the AMBUPC were Gainsco (-5.44%) and 21st Century Holding Co. (-3.05%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 186.60 (+4.29%). Leading the AMBUML were Hartford Financial Services Group (+6.35%) and Delphi Financial Group (+5.38%). Trailing the AMBUML were American National Insurance (+1.85%) and Atlantic American Corp. (+2.26%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 729.40 (+5.23%). Leading the AMBUL were CNO Financial Group Inc. (+7.61%) and Protective Life Corp. (+7.01%). Trailing the AMBUL were Symetra Life Insurance (-0.47%) and Investors Heritage Capital Co. (0.00%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 821.94 (+4.39%). Leading the AMBULH were CNO Financial Group Inc. (+7.61%) and Protective Life Corp. (+7.01%). Trailing the AMBULH were Symetra Life Insurance (-0.47%) and Investors Heritage Capital Co. (0.00%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 927.41 (+3.57%). Leading the AMBUH were Universal American (+5.58%) and Molina Healthcare (+5.09%). Trailing the AMBUH were Centene Corp. (+1.93%) and Triple-S Management Corp. (+1.95%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 919.16 (+2.60%). Leading the AMBUB were InsWeb (+8.16%) and eHealth Inc. (+7.31%). Trailing the AMBUB were Brown & Brown (+1.79%) and Aon (+2.54%).

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