Atlantic American Corp. Leads Thursday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Declines 2.22%

Fri. August 08, 2008; Posted: 12:45 PM

OLDWICK, N.J., Aug 08, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- FFG | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Thursday, Aug. 7, at 1045.00 (-2.22%). All 15 A.M. Best stock indexes declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Atlantic American Corp. (+18.05%) and Kingsway Financial Services (+15.04%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were FBL Financial Group (-18.19%) and American International Group Inc. (-18.05%).

The European 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:

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) -0.40%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) -0.91%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) -1.21%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) -1.55%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) -1.57%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) -1.62%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) -1.66%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) -1.80%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) -2.09%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) -2.22%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -2.27%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) -3.01%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) -3.32%

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

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) -11.01%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 950.85 (-3.32%). Leading the AMBUS were Atlantic American Corp. (+18.05%) and Nationwide Financial Services (+9.90%). Trailing the AMBUS were FBL Financial Group (-18.19%) and AIG (-18.05%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 1198.96 (-0.40%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were Axa S.A. (+4.81%) and Legal & General Group (+2.97%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Aegon N.V. (-7.49%) and Benfield Group (-3.73%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1282.50 (-2.27%). Leading the AMBAP were Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance (+0.99%) and Korean Reinsurance Co. (+0.80%). Trailing the AMBAP were Tokio Marine Holdings (-3.97%) and Nissay Dowa General Insurance (-3.09%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1179.74 (-1.21%). Leading the AMBGR were Axa S.A. (+4.81%) and Mapfre S.A. (+1.86%). Trailing the AMBGR were Allied World Assurance (-7.65%) and Aegon N.V. (-7.49%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1064.93 (-1.66%). Leading the AMBGB were Brown & Brown (-0.44%) and Aon (-0.96%). Trailing the AMBGB were Benfield Group (-3.73%) and Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (-3.10%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 927.52 (-3.49%). Leading the AMBGML were Atlantic American Corp. (+18.05%) and Axa S.A. (+4.81%). Trailing the AMBGML were AIG (-18.05%) and Unitrin (-7.19%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1133.69 (-1.62%). Leading the AMBGNL were Kingsway Financial Services (+15.04%) and National Security Group (+6.32%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Fidelity National Financial (-7.23%) and PMA Capital Corp. (-6.63%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 1074.23 (-1.80%). Leading the AMBGL were Nationwide Financial Services (+9.90%) and Legal & General Group (+2.97%). Trailing the AMBGL were FBL Financial Group (-18.19%) and Independence Holding Co. (-11.68%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1106.25 (-1.57%). Leading the AMBUPC were National Security Group (+6.32%) and Eastern Insurance Holdings (+5.26%). Trailing the AMBUPC were Allied World Assurance (-7.65%) and Fidelity National Financial (-7.23%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 539.76 (-11.01%). Leading the AMBUML were Atlantic American Corp. (+18.05%) and Assurant (-1.97%). Trailing the AMBUML were AIG (-18.05%) and Unitrin (-7.19%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 1171.46 (-3.01%). Leading the AMBUL were Nationwide Financial Services (+9.90%) and Prudential Financial Inc. (-0.26%). Trailing the AMBUL were FBL Financial Group (-18.19%) and Independence Holding Co. (-11.68%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 1090.32 (-2.09%). Leading the AMBULH were Nationwide Financial Services (+9.90%) and Cigna (+1.42%). Trailing the AMBULH were FBL Financial Group (-18.19%) and Independence Holding Co. (-11.68%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 1002.27 (-0.91%). Leading the AMBUH were Cigna (+1.42%) and WellPoint (+0.28%). Trailing the AMBUH were Universal American (-3.27%) and Coventry Health Care (-2.90%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 1050.05 (-1.55%). Leading the AMBUB were Brown & Brown (-0.44%) and Aon (-0.96%). Trailing the AMBUB were Marsh & McLennan Cos. (-2.13%) and Willis Group Holdings (-1.75%).

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

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 176 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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