CRM Holdings Leads Friday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Declines 2.14%

OLDWICK, N.J., Jul 28, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- CRMH | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Friday, July 25, at 1032.81 (-2.14%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, four rose and 11 declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were CRM Holdings (+6.91%) and Baldwin & Lyons (+6.15%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Munich Re (-7.34%) and Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (-7.18%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index led the sector indexes, with the European Insurance Index trailing the list. In descending order, the A.M. Best Insurance Stock Indexes closed at:

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +1.16%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +0.20%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +0.18%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +0.16%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) -0.52%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) -0.54%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) -0.61%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) -1.25%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) -1.44%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) -2.14%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) -2.14%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) -3.24%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) -3.51%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -3.86%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) -4.40%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 942.63 (-0.54%). Leading the AMBUS were CRM Holdings (+6.91%) and Baldwin & Lyons (+6.15%). Trailing the AMBUS were XL Capital (-4.38%) and Chubb (-4.20%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 1161.03 (-4.40%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were Omega Insurance Holdings (+0.36%) and Benfield Group (+0.30%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Munich Re (-7.34%) and Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (-7.18%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1363.84 (-3.86%). Leading the AMBAP were Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd. (+0.77%) and Tower Ltd. (+0.47%). Trailing the AMBAP were Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Holdings (-6.19%) and Tokio Marine Holdings (-5.38%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1153.98 (-3.24%). Leading the AMBGR were White Mountains Insurance Group (+1.72%) and Allied World Assurance (+1.66%). Trailing the AMBGR were Munich Re (-7.34%) and Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (-7.18%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1017.90 (+0.18%). Leading the AMBGB were Aon (+0.54%) and Benfield Group (+0.30%). Trailing the AMBGB were Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (-0.59%) and Brown & Brown (-0.17%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 925.50 (-3.51%). Leading the AMBGML were Atlantic American Corp. (+4.32%) and Horace Mann Educators (+1.35%). Trailing the AMBGML were Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (-7.18%) and Zurich Financial Services AG (-5.24%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1127.88 (-2.14%). Leading the AMBGNL were CRM Holdings (+6.91%) and Baldwin & Lyons (+6.15%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Holdings (-6.19%) and Tokio Marine Holdings (-5.38%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 1050.86 (-1.25%). Leading the AMBGL were Independence Holding Co. (+4.08%) and Aflac Inc. (+3.41%). Trailing the AMBGL were Munich Re (-7.34%) and Legal & General Group (-6.72%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1076.86 (-1.44%). Leading the AMBUPC were CRM Holdings (+6.91%) and Baldwin & Lyons (+6.15%). Trailing the AMBUPC were XL Capital (-4.38%) and Chubb (-4.20%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 573.68 (-0.61%). Leading the AMBUML were Atlantic American Corp. (+4.32%) and Horace Mann Educators (+1.35%). Trailing the AMBUML were Unitrin (-2.48%) and Hartford Financial Services Group (-1.54%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 1186.19 (-0.52%). Leading the AMBUL were Independence Holding Co. (+4.08%) and Kansas City Life Insurance (+2.96%). Trailing the AMBUL were StanCorp Financial Group (-2.26%) and Nationwide Financial Services (-1.68%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 1075.31 (+0.20%). Leading the AMBULH were Independence Holding Co. (+4.08%) and AFLAC Inc. (+3.41%). Trailing the AMBULH were Triple-S Management Corp. (-3.57%) and StanCorp Financial Group (-2.26%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 955.56 (+1.16%). Leading the AMBUH were Aflac Inc. (+3.41%) and UnitedHealth Group (+1.59%). Trailing the AMBUH were Triple-S Management Corp. (-3.57%) and Coventry Health Care (-1.27%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 1000.96 (+0.16%). Leading the AMBUB were Aon (+0.54%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+0.07%). Trailing the AMBUB were Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (-0.59%) and Brown & Brown (-0.17%).

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.

Morning Coffee with TradingMarkets -- Free Newsletter

More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index