Korean Reinsurance Co. Leads Monday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Declines 2.14%

OLDWICK, N.J., Jul 29, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- KORRF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Monday, July 28, at 1010.72 (-2.14%). All 15 A.M. Best stock indexes declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Korean Reinsurance Co. (+5.93%) and Penn Treaty American (+4.75%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were American International Group Inc. (-12.04%) and First Acceptance Corp. (-11.14%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index led the sector indexes, with the U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index trailing the list. In descending order, the A.M. Best Insurance Stock Indexes closed at:

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -0.11%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) -0.69%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) -0.82%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) -1.21%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) -1.23%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) -1.84%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) -2.14%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) -2.32%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) -2.42%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) -2.58%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) -2.86%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) -2.98%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) -3.31%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) -3.33%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) -7.24%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 918.30 (-2.58%). Leading the AMBUS were Penn Treaty American (+4.75%) and Everest Re Group (+4.71%). Trailing the AMBUS were AIG (-12.04%) and First Acceptance Corp. (-11.14%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 1139.68 (-1.84%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were Beazley Group (+1.16%) and Omega Insurance Holdings (+0.36%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Catlin Group (-8.33%) and Brit Insurance Holdings (-7.65%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1362.40 (-0.11%). Leading the AMBAP were Korean Reinsurance Co. (+5.93%) and Singapore Reinsurance Corp. (+3.57%). Trailing the AMBAP were LIG Insurance Co. (-1.57%) and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Holdings (-1.37%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1139.73 (-1.23%). Leading the AMBGR were Korean Reinsurance Co. (+5.93%) and Everest Re Group (+4.71%). Trailing the AMBGR were Catlin Group (-8.33%) and Amlin plc (-4.62%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 988.82 (-2.86%). Leading the AMBGB were Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (+0.31%) and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (-1.67%). Trailing the AMBGB were Marsh & McLennan Cos. (-3.71%) and Brown & Brown (-2.96%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 894.84 (-3.31%). Leading the AMBGML were Atlantic American Corp. (+2.07%) and Assurant (+0.60%). Trailing the AMBGML were AIG (-12.04%) and First Acceptance Corp. (-11.14%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1118.67 (-0.82%). Leading the AMBGNL were Korean Reinsurance Co. (+5.93%) and Everest Re Group (+4.71%). Trailing the AMBGNL were ProCentury Corp. (-9.99%) and United Fire & Casualty (-9.34%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 1026.51 (-2.32%). Leading the AMBGL were Penn Treaty American (+4.75%) and Health Net (+4.22%). Trailing the AMBGL were FBL Financial Group (-5.99%) and Genworth Financial (-5.28%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1069.38 (-0.69%). Leading the AMBUPC were Everest Re Group (+4.71%) and Meadowbrook Insurance Group (+2.93%). Trailing the AMBUPC were First Acceptance Corp. (-11.14%) and ProCentury Corp. (-9.99%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 532.16 (-7.24%). Leading the AMBUML were Atlantic American Corp. (+2.07%) and Assurant (+0.60%). Trailing the AMBUML were AIG (-12.04%) and Hartford Financial Services Group (-3.86%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 1146.65 (-3.33%). Leading the AMBUL were Reinsurance Group of America Inc. (-0.08%) and Protective Life Corp. (-1.05%). Trailing the AMBUL were FBL Financial Group (-5.99%) and Genworth Financial (-5.28%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 1049.29 (-2.42%). Leading the AMBULH were Penn Treaty American (+4.75%) and Health Net (+4.22%). Trailing the AMBULH were FBL Financial Group (-5.99%) and Genworth Financial (-5.28%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 943.99 (-1.21%). Leading the AMBUH were Penn Treaty American (+4.75%) and Health Net (+4.22%). Trailing the AMBUH were Universal American (-2.98%) and UnitedHealth Group (-2.44%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 971.17 (-2.98%). Leading the AMBUB were Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (-1.67%) and Willis Group Holdings (-2.19%). Trailing the AMBUB were Marsh & McLennan Cos. (-3.71%) and Brown & Brown (-2.96%).

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.

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