RLI Corp. Leads Wednesday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Rises 1.88%

OLDWICK, N.J., Jul 17, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- RLI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Wednesday, July 16, at 989.09 (+1.88%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, 13 rose and two declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were RLI Corp. (+13.10%) and American International Group Inc. (+12.79%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were NYMagic (-9.68%) and Navigators Group (-6.60%).

The U.S. Multi-Line 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:

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) +8.80%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) +5.13%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +3.80%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +3.77%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +3.64%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +3.40%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +2.68%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) +2.34%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +1.88%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +1.55%

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

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +1.07%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +0.28%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) -0.57%

Asian/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -1.04%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 902.86 (+3.80%). Leading the AMBUS were RLI Corp. (+13.10%) and AIG (+12.79%). Trailing the AMBUS were NYMagic (-9.68%) and Navigators Group (-6.60%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 1106.31 (-0.57%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were RSA Insurance Group plc (+6.18%) and Amlin plc (+4.38%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Novae Group plc (-3.33%) and Swiss Reinsurance (-2.33%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1334.26 (-1.04%). Leading the AMBAP were Korean Reinsurance Co. (+3.57%) and Dongbu Insurance Co. (+3.37%). Trailing the AMBAP were Aioi Insurance Co. Ltd. (-5.30%) and LIG Insurance Co. (-3.38%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1122.83 (+0.28%). Leading the AMBGR were XL Capital (+8.10%) and W.R. Berkley Corp. (+5.43%). Trailing the AMBGR were Swiss Reinsurance (-2.33%) and Chaucer Holdings (-0.64%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1056.29 (+3.64%). Leading the AMBGR were Brown & Brown (+4.85%) and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (+4.74%). Trailing the AMBGR were Benfield Group (0.00%) and Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (+2.57%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 875.15 (+1.55%). Leading the AMBGML were AIG (+12.79%) and American National Insurance (+11.26%). Trailing the AMBGML were Allianz (-1.50%) and Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (-1.32%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1112.55 (+1.14%). Leading the AMBGNL were RLI Corp. (+13.10%) and Markel Corp. (+10.48%). Trailing the AMBGNL were NYMagic (-9.68%) and Navigators Group (-6.60%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 984.19 (+2.68%). Leading the AMBGL were Ameriprise Financial (+9.29%) and Prudential Financial Inc. (+7.17%). Trailing the AMBGL were Humana (-2.45%) and Aetna (-1.29%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1072.18 (+2.34%). Leading the AMBUPC were RLI Corp. (+13.10%) and Markel Corp. (+10.48%). Trailing the AMBUPC were NYMagic (-9.68%) and Navigators Group (-6.60%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 525.13 (+8.80%). Leading the AMBUML were AIG (+12.79%) and American National Insurance (+11.26%). Trailing the AMBUML were Assurant (+1.26%) and Atlantic American Corp. (+3.12%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 1132.68 (+5.13%). Leading the AMBUL were Ameriprise Financial (+9.29%) and Prudential Financial Inc. (+7.17%). Trailing the AMBUL were Genworth Financial (-0.54%) and Kansas City Life Insurance (+2.13%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 1002.15 (+3.40%). Leading the AMBULH were Ameriprise Financial (+9.29%) and Prudential Financial Inc. (+7.17%). Trailing the AMBULH were Humana (-2.45%) and Aetna (-1.29%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 861.55 (+1.07%). Leading the AMBUH were Unum Group (+6.03%) and Universal American (+2.99%). Trailing the AMBUH were Humana (-2.45%) and Aetna (-1.29%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 1044.87 (+3.77%). Leading the AMBUB were Brown & Brown (+4.85%) and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (+4.74%). Trailing the AMBUB were Aon (+3.49%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+3.51%).

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

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 178 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.

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