National Security Group Leads Tuesday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Rises 1.34%

Wed. September 03, 2008; Posted: 10:18 AM

OLDWICK, N.J., Sep 03, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- NSEC | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 1045.07 (+1.34%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, 14 rose and one declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were National Security Group (+15.08%) and Axa S.A. (+7.17%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Dongbu Insurance Co. (-7.36%) and Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance (-4.13%).

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

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) +2.65%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +2.37%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +2.02%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) +1.47%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) +1.37%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +1.34%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) +1.17%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) +0.87%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +0.82%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +0.78%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +0.54%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +0.54%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) +0.26%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +0.09%

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

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 973.02 (+0.78%). Leading the AMBUS were National Security Group (+15.08%) and Fidelity National Financial (+6.70%). Trailing the AMBUS were UnitedHealth Group (-3.84%) and Independence Holding Co. (-3.35%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 1160.81 (+2.65%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were Axa S.A. (+7.17%) and Prudential plc (+5.00%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Beazley Group (-0.92%) and Euler Hermes (-0.11%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1239.02 (+0.26%). Leading the AMBAP were QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (+4.21%) and Korean Reinsurance Co. (+4.02%). Trailing the AMBAP were Dongbu Insurance Co. (-7.36%) and Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance (-4.13%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1168.97 (+2.02%). Leading the AMBGR were Axa S.A. (+7.17%) and Aegon N.V. (+4.50%). Trailing the AMBGR were Singapore Reinsurance Corp. (-3.77%) and XL Capital (-3.13%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1145.20 (+0.54%). Leading the AMBGB were Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (+1.95%) and Brown & Brown (+1.62%). Trailing the AMBGB were Aon (+0.04%) and Willis Group Holdings (+0.06%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 905.00 (+2.37%). Leading the AMBGML were Axa S.A. (+7.17%) and RSA Insurance Group PLC (+3.32%). Trailing the AMBGML were First Acceptance Corp. (-1.52%) and Assurant (-1.16%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1144.19 (+1.17%). Leading the AMBGNL were National Security Group (+15.08%) and Fidelity National Financial (+6.70%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Dongbu Insurance Co. (-7.36%) and Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance (-4.13%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 1079.52 (+0.82%). Leading the AMBGL were Prudential Financial Inc. (+5.06%) and National Western Life Insurance (+5.03%). Trailing the AMBGL were UnitedHealth Group (-3.84%) and Independence Holding Co. (-3.35%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1137.04 (+1.37%). Leading the AMBUPC were National Security Group (+15.08%) and Fidelity National Financial (+6.70%). Trailing the AMBUPC were XL Capital (-3.13%) and Affirmative Insurance Holdings Inc. (-2.65%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 521.44 (+1.47%). Leading the AMBUML were HCC Insurance Holdings (+2.22%) and American International Group (+2.19%). Trailing the AMBUML were Assurant (-1.16%) and Atlantic American Corp. (-0.64%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 1232.21 (+0.87%). Leading the AMBUL were Prudential Financial Inc. (+5.06%) and National Western Life Insurance (+5.03%). Trailing the AMBUL were Independence Holding Co. (-3.35%) and Sun Life Financial (-1.25%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 1127.39 (+0.09%). Leading the AMBULH were Prudential Financial Inc. (+5.06%) and National Western Life Insurance (+5.03%). Trailing the AMBULH were UnitedHealth Group (-3.84%) and Independence Holding Co. (-3.35%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 1014.04 (-0.91%). Leading the AMBUH were Aflac Inc. (+1.41%) and Unum Group (+1.18%). Trailing the AMBUH were UnitedHealth Group (-3.84%) and Humana (-2.07%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 1126.33 (+0.54%). Leading the AMBUB were Brown & Brown (+1.62%) and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (+1.59%). Trailing the AMBUB were Aon (+0.04%) and Willis Group Holdings (+0.06%).

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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