Kingsway Financial Services Leads Tuesday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Declines 0.24%

Wed. August 27, 2008; Posted: 11:06 AM

OLDWICK, N.J., Aug 27, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- KFS | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 1002.70 (-0.24%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, eight rose and seven declined. Topping A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Kingsway Financial Services (+4.66%) and American International Group (+4.58%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Atlantic American Corp. (-9.94%) and QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (-5.02%).

The U.S. Multi-Line 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. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) +1.76%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +0.79%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +0.62%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +0.31%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) +0.26%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +0.25%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +0.25%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +0.24%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) -0.21%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) -0.24%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) -0.33%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) -0.61%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) -0.84%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) -0.92%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -2.10%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 935.77 (+0.31%). Leading the AMBUS were AIG (+4.58%) and Gainsco (+4.15%). Trailing the AMBUS were Atlantic American Corp. (-9.94%) and Fairfax Financial Holdings (-4.57%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 1106.05 (-0.84%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were Paris Re Holdings (+3.48%) and Euler Hermes (+2.78%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Brit Insurance Holdings (-3.01%) and Old Mutual plc (-2.96%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1199.77 (-2.10%). Leading the AMBAP were Korean Reinsurance Co. (+3.67%) and Tokio Marine Holdings (+0.56%). Trailing the AMBAP were QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (-5.02%) and China Insurance International Holdings (-2.59%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1122.62 (-0.92%). Leading the AMBGR were Korean Reinsurance Co. (+3.67%) and Paris Re Holdings (+3.48%). Trailing the AMBGR were QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (-5.02%) and China Insurance International Holdings (-2.59%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1134.19 (+0.62%). Leading the AMBGB were Brown & Brown (+2.33%) and Willis Group Holdings (+1.99%). Trailing the AMBGB were Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (-2.51%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (-0.38%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 855.24 (+0.24%). Leading the AMBGML were AIG (+4.58%) and American Financial Group (+2.45%). Trailing the AMBGML were Atlantic American Corp. (-9.94%) and Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (-2.21%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1108.13 (-0.61%). Leading the AMBGNL were Kingsway Financial Services (+4.66%) and Gainsco (+4.15%). Trailing the AMBGNL were QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (-5.02%) and Fairfax Financial Holdings (-4.57%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 1036.17 (-0.33%). Leading the AMBGL were FBL Financial Group (+2.92%) and Conseco (+2.57%). Trailing the AMBGL were Old Mutual plc (-2.96%) and Legal & General Group (-2.72%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1099.32 (-0.21%). Leading the AMBUPC were Gainsco (+4.15%) and First American Corp. (+3.56%). Trailing the AMBUPC were Fairfax Financial Holdings (-4.57%) and XL Capital (-2.16%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 486.56 (+1.76%). Leading the AMBUML were AIG (+4.58%) and American Financial Group (+2.45%). Trailing the AMBUML were Atlantic American Corp. (-9.94%) and Hartford Financial Services Group (-0.78%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 1169.13 (+0.26%). Leading the AMBUL were FBL Financial Group (+2.92%) and Conseco (+2.57%). Trailing the AMBUL were Reinsurance Group of America Inc. (-0.94%) and Sun Life Financial (-0.70%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 1086.20 (+0.25%). Leading the AMBULH were FBL Financial Group (+2.92%) and Conseco (+2.57%). Trailing the AMBULH were Universal American (-1.27%) and Health Net (-1.26%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 996.24 (+0.25%). Leading the AMBUH were Penn Treaty American (+2.33%) and Aetna (+1.78%). Trailing the AMBUH were Universal American (-1.27%) and Health Net (-1.26%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 1114.64 (+0.79%). Leading the AMBUB were Brown & Brown (+2.33%) and Willis Group Holdings (+1.99%). Trailing the AMBUB were Marsh & McLennan Cos. (-0.38%) and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (+1.21%).

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.

For full details for AAME click here.

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