Old Mutual Plc Leads Thursday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Rises 2.82%

OLDWICK, N.J., Sep 26, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- OLMUY | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Thursday, Sept. 25, at 1008.18 (+2.82%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, 14 rose and one declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Old Mutual plc (+12.56%) and RSA Insurance Group plc (+11.08%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were AIG (-8.76%) and National Interstate Corp. (-5.86%).

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) +5.52%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +3.82%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +3.52%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +3.10%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +2.93%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +2.82%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +2.76%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) +2.69%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +2.23%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +1.61%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +1.61%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) +1.33%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) +1.19%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) +0.83%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) -0.23%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 918.74 (+1.61%). Leading the AMBUS were Unico American Corp. (+9.31%) and Phoenix Cos. (+7.25%). Trailing the AMBUS were AIG (-8.76%) and National Interstate Corp. (-5.86%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 1139.92 (+5.52%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were Old Mutual plc (+12.56%) and RSA Insurance Group plc (+11.08%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Paris Re Holdings (-3.91%) and Chaucer Holdings (-2.81%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1309.53 (+0.83%). Leading the AMBAP were Dongbu Insurance Co. (+2.95%) and China Insurance International Holdings (+2.70%). Trailing the AMBAP were Aioi Insurance Co. Ltd. (-2.39%) and Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance (-1.76%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1200.13 (+2.76%). Leading the AMBGR were Aegon N.V. (+8.81%) and Amlin plc (+8.11%). Trailing the AMBGR were Paris Re Holdings (-3.91%) and Chaucer Holdings (-2.81%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1151.00 (+2.93%). Leading the AMBGB were AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (+7.25%) and Aon (+4.79%). Trailing the AMBGB were Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (+0.11%) and Benfield Group (+0.30%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 789.85 (+3.52%). Leading the AMBGML were RSA Insurance Group plc (+11.08%) and Zurich Financial Services AG (+5.03%). Trailing the AMBGML were AIG (-8.76%) and Atlantic American Corp. (-2.88%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1208.48 (+1.33%). Leading the AMBGNL were Unico American Corp. (+9.31%) and Amlin plc (+8.11%). Trailing the AMBGNL were National Interstate Corp. (-5.86%) and Paris Re Holdings (-3.91%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 1028.08 (+3.82%). Leading the AMBGL were Old Mutual plc (+12.56%) and Aviva (+9.92%). Trailing the AMBGL were StanCorp Financial Group (-2.91%) and Kansas City Life Insurance (-2.64%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1215.38 (+1.19%). Leading the AMBUPC were Unico American Corp. (+9.31%) and ACE (+7.03%). Trailing the AMBUPC were National Interstate Corp. (-5.86%) and CRM Holdings (-3.67%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 294.20 (-0.23%). Leading the AMBUML were Delphi Financial Group (+3.78%) and Assurant (+3.24%). Trailing the AMBUML were AIG (-8.76%) and Atlantic American Corp. (-2.88%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 1206.34 (+2.69%). Leading the AMBUL were Phoenix Cos. (+7.25%) and Torchmark (+5.32%). Trailing the AMBUL were StanCorp Financial Group (-2.91%) and Kansas City Life Insurance (-2.64%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 1075.30 (+2.23%). Leading the AMBULH were Phoenix Cos. (+7.25%) and Torchmark (+5.32%). Trailing the AMBULH were StanCorp Financial Group (-2.91%) and Kansas City Life Insurance (-2.64%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 933.99 (+1.61%). Leading the AMBUH were Cigna (+4.68%) and WellPoint (+3.77%). Trailing the AMBUH were AFLAC Inc. (-1.95%) and Universal American (-1.36%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 1132.72 (+3.10%). Leading the AMBUB were AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (+7.25%) and Aon (+4.79%). Trailing the AMBUB were Brown & Brown (+0.45%) and Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Co. (+0.56%).

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

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 182 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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