The AMBG closed Thursday, July 23, at 707.31 (+2.87%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, 14 rose and one declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Hartford Financial Services Group (+16.91%) and Phoenix Cos. (+10.78%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Insure.com (-7.09%) and Continental Reinsurance (-4.96%).

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) +6.11%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +5.27%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +4.88%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) +4.64%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +4.35%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +3.46%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +3.18%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) +3.14%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +2.87%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +2.01%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) +1.98%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +1.48%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) +1.14%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +1.13%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -2.00%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 664.35 (+3.46%). Leading the AMBUS were Hartford Financial Services Group (+16.91%) and Phoenix Cos. (+10.78%). Trailing the AMBUS were Insure.com (-7.09%) and United Insurance (-4.26%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 735.84 (+3.14%). Leading the AMBEUR were Aegon N.V. (+5.19%) and AXA S.A. (+5.03%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Hansard Global (-3.69%) and Hardy Underwriting (-3.04%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1031.99 (-2.00%). Leading the AMBAP were National Reinsurance Co. (+6.17%) and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd. (+1.80%). Trailing the AMBAP were QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (-3.21%) and Sompo Japan Insurance (-2.49%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 842.38 (+2.01%). Leading the AMBGR were National Reinsurance Co. (+6.17%) and Aegon N.V. (+5.19%). Trailing the AMBGR were Continental Reinsurance (-4.96%) and QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (-3.21%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 876.76 (+1.13%). Leading the AMBGB were eHealth Inc. (+4.73%) and National Financial Partners (+3.54%). Trailing the AMBGB were Insure.com (-7.09%) and Hansard Global (-3.69%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 506.12 (+3.18%). Leading the AMBGML were Hartford Financial Services Group (+16.91%) and Assurant (+5.60%). Trailing the AMBGML were AIG (-3.51%) and Generali Deutschland Holding (-1.24%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 946.08 (+1.14%). Leading the AMBGNL were Zenith National Insurance (+9.00%) and PMA Capital Corp. (+8.00%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Kingsway Financial Services (-4.34%) and United Insurance (-4.26%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 674.30 (+4.88%). Leading the AMBGL were Phoenix Cos. (+10.78%) and Principal Financial Group (+9.71%). Trailing the AMBGL were United American Healthcare (-3.47%) and Health Net (-2.00%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 958.02 (+1.98%). Leading the AMBUPC were Zenith National Insurance (+9.00%) and PMA Capital Corp. (+8.00%). Trailing the AMBUPC were United Insurance (-4.26%) and Hallmark Financial Services (-2.74%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 143.89 (+4.64%). Leading the AMBUML were Hartford Financial Services Group (+16.91%) and Assurant (+5.60%). Trailing the AMBUML were AIG (-3.51%) and HCC Insurance Holdings (-0.12%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 729.57 (+6.11%). Leading the AMBUL were Phoenix Cos. (+10.78%) and Principal Financial Group (+9.71%). Trailing the AMBUL were Independence Holding Co. (-0.87%) and Investors Heritage Capital Co. (0.00%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 749.69 (+5.27%). Leading the AMBULH were Phoenix Cos. (+10.78%) and Principal Financial Group (+9.71%). Trailing the AMBULH were United American Healthcare (-3.47%) and Health Net (-2.00%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 767.41 (+4.35%). Leading the AMBUH were AFLAC Inc. (+6.28%) and WellPoint (+5.01%). Trailing the AMBUH were United American Healthcare (-3.47%) and Health Net (-2.00%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 821.03 (+1.48%). Leading the AMBUB were eHealth Inc. (+4.73%) and National Financial Partners (+3.54%). Trailing the AMBUB were Insure.com (-7.09%) and InsWeb (0.00%).

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

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 205 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.

Stephen Brown-Klinger

Copyright (C) 2009 by A. M. Best Company, Inc.