Cigna Leads Monday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Declines 0.10%

Tue. August 05, 2008; Posted: 10:13 AM

OLDWICK, N.J., Aug 05, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- BWINA | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Monday, Aug. 4, at 1036.90 (-0.10%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, six rose and nine declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Cigna (+5.25%) and Aetna (+5.03%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Baldwin & Lyons (-7.88%) and First Mercury Financial Corp. (-7.06%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index led the sector indexes, with the Asia/Pacific 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) +2.68%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +0.98%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +0.97%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +0.90%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +0.57%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +0.12%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) -0.10%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) -0.21%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) -0.23%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) -0.25%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) -0.34%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) -0.50%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) -0.78%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) -0.86%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -1.36%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 957.34 (+0.12%). Leading the AMBUS were Cigna (+5.25%) and Aetna (+5.03%). Trailing the AMBUS were Baldwin & Lyons (-7.88%) and First Mercury Financial Corp. (-7.06%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 1152.86 (-0.21%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were Novae Group PLC (+3.77%) and Aegon N.V. (+2.83%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Beazley Group (-3.10%) and Euler Hermes (-2.07%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1315.80 (-1.36%). Leading the AMBAP were Nissay Dowa General Insurance (+1.72%) and Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance (+0.81%). Trailing the AMBAP were Tower Ltd. (-2.82%) and Tokio Marine Holdings (-2.29%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1157.35 (-0.50%). Leading the AMBGR were Aegon N.V. (+2.83%) and Ace (+1.69%). Trailing the AMBGR were Axis Capital Holdings (-2.37%) and White Mountains Insurance Group (-2.33%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1037.82 (+0.90%). Leading the AMBGB were Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+1.68%) and Aon (+0.98%). Trailing the AMBGB were Willis Group Holdings (-0.71%) and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (-0.16%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 918.16 (-0.23%). Leading the AMBGML were Horace Mann Educators (+1.19%) and Hartford Financial Services Group (+0.38%). Trailing the AMBGML were American National Insurance (-2.41%) and First Acceptance Corp. (-1.59%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1137.15 (-0.86%). Leading the AMBGNL were Gainsco (+4.30%) and Novae Group PLC (+3.77%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Baldwin & Lyons (-7.88%) and First Mercury Financial Corp. (-7.06%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 1059.51 (+0.57%). Leading the AMBGL were Cigna (+5.25%) and Aetna (+5.03%). Trailing the AMBGL were Conseco (-3.33%) and Ameriprise Financial (-2.97%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1107.67 (-0.78%). Leading the AMBUPC were Gainsco (+4.30%) and Selective Insurance Group (+3.44%). Trailing the AMBUPC were Baldwin & Lyons (-7.88%) and First Mercury Financial Corp. (-7.06%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 572.61 (-0.25%). Leading the AMBUML were Horace Mann Educators (+1.19%) and Hartford Financial Services Group (+0.38%). Trailing the AMBUML were American National Insurance (-2.41%) and Assurant (-1.51%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 1173.94 (-0.34%). Leading the AMBUL were Principal Financial Group (+2.19%) and American Equity Inv. Life (+1.48%). Trailing the AMBUL were Conseco (-3.33%) and Ameriprise Financial (-2.97%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 1086.37 (+0.98%). Leading the AMBULH were Cigna (+5.25%) and Aetna (+5.03%). Trailing the AMBULH were Conseco (-3.33%) and Ameriprise Financial (-2.97%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 991.46 (+2.68%). Leading the AMBUH were Cigna (+5.25%) and Aetna (+5.03%). Trailing the AMBUH were Penn Treaty American (-1.82%) and Unum Group (-1.71%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 1022.59 (+0.97%). Leading the AMBUB were Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+1.68%) and Aon (+0.98%). Trailing the AMBUB were Willis Group Holdings (-0.71%) and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (-0.16%).

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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