Hannover Re Leads Wednesday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Declines 0.06%

Thu. July 03, 2008; Posted: 12:28 PM

OLDWICK, N.J., Jul 03, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- HVRRY | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Wednesday, July 2, at 1034.79 (-0.06%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, six rose and nine declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (+5.40%) and Fidelity National Financial (+4.53%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were China Insurance International Holdings (-10.22%) and National Western Life Insurance (-7.80%).

The European Insurance Index led the sector indexes, with the Asian/Pacific Insurance Index trailing the list. In descending order, the A.M. Best Insurance Stock Indexes closed at:

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) +0.71%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +0.42%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +0.34%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) +0.28%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) +0.24%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +0.04%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) -0.03%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) -0.05%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) -0.06%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) -0.15%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) -0.19%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) -0.22%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) -0.66%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) -0.94%

Asian/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -2.45%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 947.65 (-0.19%). Leading the AMBUS were Fidelity National Financial (+4.53%) and Specialty Underwriters' Alliance (+3.90%). Trailing the AMBUS were National Western Life Insurance (-7.80%) and Hallmark Financial Services (-6.26%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 1158.96 (+0.71%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (+5.40%) and Mapfre S.A. (+3.30%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Beazley Group (-6.02%) and Brit Insurance Holdings (-2.62%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1353.30 (-2.45%). Leading the AMBAP were Singapore Reinsurance Corp. (+3.57%) and Tower Ltd. (+1.05%). Trailing the AMBAP were China Insurance International Holdings (-10.22%) and Nipponkoa Insurance (-4.67%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1167.61 (-0.15%). Leading the AMBGR were Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (+5.40%) and Singapore Reinsurance Corp. (+3.57%). Trailing the AMBGR were China Insurance International Holdings (-10.22%) and Allied World Assurance (-2.92%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1025.95 (-0.05%). Leading the AMBGR were Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+0.60%) and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (+0.21%). Trailing the AMBGR were Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group Plc (-0.90%) and Aon (-0.53%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 931.14 (+0.34%). Leading the AMBGML were Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (+5.40%) and Assurant (+2.28%). Trailing the AMBGML were Horace Mann Educators (-1.88%) and RSA Insurance Group Plc (-1.34%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1153.94 (-0.94%). Leading the AMBGNL were Fidelity National Financial (+4.53%) and Specialty Underwriters' Alliance (+3.90%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Hallmark Financial Services (-6.26%) and Nipponkoa Insurance (-4.67%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 1030.16 (+0.42%). Leading the AMBGL were Health Net (+3.22%) and Old Mutual Plc (+2.60%). Trailing the AMBGL were China Insurance International Holdings (-10.22%) and National Western Life Insurance (-7.80%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1116.46 (-0.66%). Leading the AMBUPC were Fidelity National Financial (+4.53%) and Specialty Underwriters' Alliance (+3.90%). Trailing the AMBUPC were Hallmark Financial Services (-6.26%) and FPIC Insurance Group (-4.43%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 578.43 (+0.28%). Leading the AMBUML were Assurant (+2.28%) and Atlantic American Corp. (+1.23%). Trailing the AMBUML were Horace Mann Educators (-1.88%) and Delphi Financial Group (-1.04%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 1160.96 (+0.24%). Leading the AMBUL were Sun Life Financial (+2.18%) and Principal Financial Group (+1.15%). Trailing the AMBUL were National Western Life Insurance (-7.80%) and Independence Holding Co. (-3.66%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 1049.97 (+0.04%). Leading the AMBULH were Health Net (+3.22%) and Coventry Health Care (+2.38%). Trailing the AMBULH were National Western Life Insurance (-7.80%) and Independence Holding Co. (-3.66%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 930.13 (-0.22%). Leading the AMBUH were Health Net (+3.22%) and Coventry Health Care (+2.38%). Trailing the AMBUH were UnitedHealth Group (-1.99%) and Aflac Inc. (-0.92%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 1011.49 (-0.03%). Leading the AMBUB were Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+0.60%) and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (+0.21%). Trailing the AMBUB were Aon (-0.53%) and Brown & Brown (-0.51%).

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

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 178 publicly traded insurance companies and brokers. Companies in the A.M. Best stock indexes include insurers 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.

(By: Lee McDonald: Lee.Mcdonald@ambest.com)

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