CRM Holdings Leads Thursday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Rises 2.67%

OLDWICK, N.J., Jul 18, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- CRMH | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Thursday, July 17, at 1015.50 (+2.67%). All 15 A.M. Best stock indexes rose. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were CRM Holdings (+11.42%) and XL Capital (+10.95%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were China Insurance International Holdings (-2.54%) and First Acceptance Corp. (-2.00%).

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) +3.80%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) +3.58%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +3.49%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +3.31%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +2.85%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +2.67%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +2.67%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) +2.55%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +2.27%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +2.19%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +1.40%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +1.40%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) +1.37%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) +1.21%

Asian/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) +1.20%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 922.63 (+2.19%). Leading the AMBUS were CRM Holdings (+11.42%) and XL Capital (+10.95%). Trailing the AMBUS were First Acceptance Corp. (-2.00%) and Assurant (-1.62%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 1148.30 (+3.80%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were Old Mutual plc (+8.86%) and Euler Hermes (+6.43%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (+0.04%) and Omega Insurance Holdings (+0.35%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1350.25 (+1.20%). Leading the AMBAP were Nipponkoa Insurance (+4.81%) and Fuji Fire & Marine Insurance (+3.42%). Trailing the AMBAP were China Insurance International Holdings (-2.54%) and Dongbu Insurance Co. (-1.71%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1148.34 (+2.27%). Leading the AMBGR were XL Capital (+10.95%) and Euler Hermes (+6.43%). Trailing the AMBGR were China Insurance International Holdings (-2.54%) and Korean Reinsurance Co. (-0.86%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1071.10 (+1.40%). Leading the AMBGR were Brown & Brown (+1.85%) and Aon (+1.82%). Trailing the AMBGR were Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (+0.59%) and Benfield Group (+0.77%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 905.65 (+3.49%). Leading the AMBGML were American International Group Inc. (+7.04%) and Axa S.A. (+5.41%). Trailing the AMBGML were First Acceptance Corp. (-2.00%) and Assurant (-1.62%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1127.76 (+1.37%). Leading the AMBGNL were CRM Holdings (+11.42%) and XL Capital (+10.95%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Dongbu Insurance Co. (-1.71%) and Fairfax Financial Holdings (-1.35%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 1016.80 (+3.31%). Leading the AMBGL were Phoenix Cos. (+9.40%) and Old Mutual plc (+8.86%). Trailing the AMBGL were China Insurance International Holdings (-2.54%) and Nationwide Financial Services (-0.83%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1085.14 (+1.21%). Leading the AMBUPC were CRM Holdings (+11.42%) and XL Capital (+10.95%). Trailing the AMBUPC were First Acceptance Corp. (-2.00%) and Fairfax Financial Holdings (-1.35%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 543.93 (+3.58%). Leading the AMBUML were AIG (+7.04%) and Unitrin (+2.69%). Trailing the AMBUML were Assurant (-1.62%) and American National Insurance (-1.25%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 1161.60 (+2.55%). Leading the AMBUL were Phoenix Cos. (+9.40%) and Genworth Financial (+7.74%). Trailing the AMBUL were Presidential Life Corp. (-0.97%) and Nationwide Financial Services (-0.83%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 1028.96 (+2.67%). Leading the AMBULH were Phoenix Cos. (+9.40%) and Genworth Financial (+7.74%). Trailing the AMBULH were Presidential Life Corp. (-0.97%) and Nationwide Financial Services (-0.83%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 886.06 (+2.85%). Leading the AMBUH were Unum Group (+4.83%) and UnitedHealth Group (+4.66%). Trailing the AMBUH were Aflac Inc. (+0.52%) and Triple-S Management Corp. (+0.73%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 1059.52 (+1.40%). Leading the AMBUB were Brown & Brown (+1.85%) and Aon (+1.82%). Trailing the AMBUB were Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (+0.59%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+1.08%).

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. 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.

(By Laura McArdle)

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